*Number one* introduction
A mushroom develops in two stages: a vegetative phase when it grows and decomposes organic matter, and a fruiting phase, when mushrooms (fruiting bodies) are produced. The cool, moist environment in woodlands is ideal for the growth and development of mushrooms and some species can be cultivated under these conditions. The strategy in cultivating mushrooms is to introduce a desirable species onto a growing medium and promote its growth, so that eventually fruiting bodies are formed.
*Number two* mushroom house
It is also called the fruiting or growing house
The dimension depends with the number of substrate bags the grower can handle
Walls can be made from farm brick or wooden frame.
Plastics should be used to linethe walls in order to increase the relative humidity in the production room
A roof thatched with grass or banana leaves
Air vents and windows on the upper side of the walls for ventilation and light to initiate fruiting
The house should provides optimum conditions for fruiting
Temperature 18 to 25°c
Humidity 80 to 90 %
*Number three* incubation/spawning room
Spawned substrate bags are kept in this rooms for the mushroom mycelium to grow.
Alternatively the spawned bags can be covered with a black plastic in the room
If using the mushroom house for incubation the air vents and windows should be closed to provide dark conditions for sprawing
Light is not needed in the incubation room and temperature should be about 24°c
*Number four* mushroom spawn
Spawn is refereed to as the mushroom seed in mushroom mycelium growing on sorghum, wheat or barley
High quality Spawn should be obtained from reputable spawn laboratories
*Number five* substrates
This the agricultural waste on which the mushroom grows
It can be;
Finely chopped rice or Wheat straw
Shredded maize cobs
Cotton waste
Banana leaves
Any substrates should be pasteurized to avoid contaminations
Add lime at 1 to 2% rate
*Number six* incubation
During incubation the mushroom grows 5o cover the whole substrate.
Place spawned bags at 24°c in the dark incubation room or cover the bags with black plastic in the house
Bags are ready for mushroom formation when the substrate appears white
Full colonization occurs at 14 to 40 days
Transfer bags to the mushroom house or expose the bags by removing the black plastic
*Number seven* fruiting
This is the formation of mushrooms
Open the air vents or windows in the mushroom house to provide light and to initiate fruiting
After on day open the bags by making long cuts or holes at the top and at the bottom of the bags using clean sharp instrument. Mushroom will form through the opening.
Mushroom will begin to form in 3 to 4 days and will be ready for harvesting in next 2 to 3 days.
A temperature range of 20 to 28°c
Relative humidity 80 to 95%
*Number eight* pests and diseases
Moulds:
Most common are green, yellow and black
Damping off:
Fungal competitor inhibiting mushroom growth
*Number nine* weeds
Inky cap
Competitor weeds should be controlled
*Number ten* problems in mushroom
Poor yields
Pest and diseases e.g bacteria snail and insects
Poor spawn will result in poor quality
*What should be done*
Order high quality spawn
Hygiene
Sterilize all working instruments
Keep doors and window closed
Keep floors clean
*Number eleven* harvesting
By gently Twist the stalk and pull
Harvest from the open ends first
Make more long cuts or holes on the central portion of the bags so that more mushroom will be formed
Continue to harvest as long as the substrate appears white