The porcini mushroom, or boletus, is one of the most delicious and healthy mushrooms found in the forest. The fruiting portion of this species is often used in cooking. Despite this, it's rarely found on the table, due to its relatively expensive nature and its limited season in the forest. This is why so many people want to learn how to grow porcini mushrooms at home year-round. This is a very interesting activity and can become a wonderful hobby.
Features of the species and useful properties
The porcini mushroom is a striking representative of the mushroom kingdom, belonging to the Boletaceae family and the genus Boletus. It gets its name from the fact that even after heat treatment and cooking, its flesh remains white. This variety is quite large. The cap is semi-round, brown with a tan hue, and averages 20-30 cm in diameter, but can reach up to 50 cm in some cases.
The cap gradually darkens, and its surface is velvety and pleasant to the touch. In high humidity, it becomes covered with a thin, slimy film. The stem is fleshy and grows up to 12 cm in height. It is fleshy and juicy in consistency, and barrel-shaped, tapering at the top and bottom. The color can vary, from light brown to dark shades with red spots.
Boletus mushrooms can be found in almost all latitudes, with the exception of areas with very dry and hot climates. This variety prefers forests with sandy or loamy soils. The peak harvest occurs in early June and lasts until mid-autumn.
Conditions for growing porcini mushrooms at home
Growing mushrooms is quite a difficult task in that it is necessary to constantly maintain conditions suitable for their reproduction.
Temperature and lighting
Temperature control is considered one of the most important factors. The ideal room temperature is between 15 and 19 degrees Celsius. During the cold season, a stove or heater is installed to maintain this level.
Equally important is room humidity, which should be at least 90%. To maintain this level, place multiple containers of water in the room where the fruiting parts are growing, or use a special device called a humidifier.
If you're growing mushrooms in a basement, you need to ensure adequate lighting. It shouldn't be too bright, as mushrooms prefer dark places and don't need a lot of light. During the incubation period, light is downright harmful.
These conditions are suitable for growing boletus mushrooms, but they are uncomfortable for humans. The fruiting bodies also release large quantities of spores into the air, which can cause an allergic reaction. In people with hypersensitivity, this can develop into asthma. This is why people entering and working in such areas wear masks.
Choosing a location
The best place for cultivation is considered to be a greenhouse, barn or basement.
There's also a lot of information about growing mushrooms on windowsills or balconies. This is a viable option, but creating and maintaining such conditions can be very difficult. Consequently, the harvest will be either very small or nonexistent, as young mushrooms are very sensitive to the growing conditions.
You may be interested in:How to prepare a basement or greenhouse
First of all, the basement should have a concrete floor, be insulated, and protected from external factors. To provide light for the growing fruits, a lamp should be turned on for several hours a day. The light should be dim, diffused, and evenly illuminate all the "beds."
The basement must have ventilation. Natural ventilation is sufficient, but if it's insufficient, fans and air filters can be added.
To easily monitor temperature and humidity, install a thermometer and hygrometer in the basement. Humidity can be increased by misting the floor. If the basement is large, it can be divided into several sections. One section can be used for seedlings, while the other can accommodate the mature fruit.
Before planting mycelium or spores in a basement, it is thoroughly disinfected, for example, with a formalin solution. After these procedures, the basement is thoroughly ventilated.
To prepare the greenhouse, the inside of the film is first painted with chalk or covered with dark agrofibre to reduce the amount of light reaching the fruit. Drip irrigation is most often used to maintain humidity levels in greenhouses. A hygrometer is installed to measure humidity levels.
To maintain a constant temperature in the greenhouse, you can install a stove or fan heater, and hang a thermometer to keep track of the temperature at all times. The boxes containing the mycelium are not placed on wooden racks, which must be constructed in advance.
Options for obtaining mycelium at home
There are several options for obtaining mycelium: from mycelium purchased in a store or dug up in the forest, or from mushroom spores collected in the wild.
From mycelium
The most common method of propagation is using mycelium. This can be purchased at a specialty store. The prepared mycelium must be placed in the substrate. This can also be purchased ready-made, or you can make it yourself.
To do this, dry forest grass, pine needles, small tree twigs and leaves (oak, birch), and moss are mixed and covered with 4 parts sand and 1 part clay. This ratio simulates the soil most suitable for porcini mushroom growth. The mixture is left to steep for 10-14 days, and then the mycelium is added. The substrate layer should be at least 30-35 cm thick below the mycelium and 3-5 cm above it. Drainage should be placed underneath.
From the dispute
Another option is to grow boletus mushrooms from spores. A dozen fruit pieces are collected in the forest and the stem is cut off, as it won't be needed. At home, the collected mushrooms are immediately sorted into groups based on the tree under which they were found, so that they can be planted under the appropriate tree, if possible.
Soak the mushrooms in warm water for 24 hours. Add a tablespoon of sugar per 10 liters of water. After the allotted time, tear the caps into small pieces in the water and grind them until smooth. Strain the resulting mixture through cheesecloth. The strained water containing the spores remains in the container.
The soil is also prepared in advance. Crushed caps are sprinkled into it, covered with peat soil, and topped with water containing the spores. The entire mixture is generously watered and placed immediately in the prepared room.
You may be interested in:A year-round cultivation method for porcini mushrooms
The main advantage of growing mushrooms at home is the harvest, which can be obtained at any time of year. Using greenhouses, basements, and other indoor spaces, boletus mushrooms can be propagated year-round.
On the windowsill
The substrate is spread into containers, and the mycelium is added. Plastic containers are suitable for planting. The containers are placed on a windowsill and watered several times a day. It's also important to ensure adequate ventilation and maintain the desired temperature.
During the heating season, it's difficult to lower the temperature to the required level in an apartment, so it makes sense to try this experiment on the balcony. It should be fairly warm to begin with—25-28 degrees Celsius. After the first shoots appear, a "cooling" period is needed, lowering the temperature to 15-18 degrees Celsius.
The mushrooms don't require additional lighting; whatever comes through the windows will be sufficient. If the experiment is successful, the first harvest will appear in about 30 days.
In the basement
A key feature of growing mushrooms in a basement is that, in addition to constant watering, it also requires several hours of daily light—at least six. It's best to choose daylight lamps.
In the greenhouse
The greenhouse cultivation process is no different from mycelium germination in a basement. To do this, the mycelium is buried in the substrate and watered generously.
No additional light is required; the temperature and humidity should be the same as in the basement. Mushrooms require an adequate supply of oxygen, which is ensured by regularly ventilating the greenhouse.
To maintain humidity, regularly mist the plants with water. You can also use containers filled with sawdust—they retain moisture well.
To harvest, carefully twist the mushroom out of the soil and fill the resulting hole with soil again. Avoid any other method (cutting or pulling the mushroom out), as this can damage the mycelium.
The Pros and Cons of Growing Mushrooms for Business
Growing porcini mushrooms at home is considered a profitable and profitable business, as this variety is in high demand and considered a delicacy. This activity is mostly undertaken by hobbyists rather than large enterprises. Preparing everything for propagation will cost approximately 30,000-40,000 rubles.
Finding customers won't be difficult, so mature fruiting bodies can be sold to wholesalers or at the market. Selling porcini mushroom mycelium is a good idea.
The main drawback of mushroom propagation as a business is the low yield. Because this variety is quite demanding in terms of care and cultivation, it's possible that the mushrooms won't grow, and you need to be prepared for this.
You may be interested in:Answers to frequently asked questions
Boletus mushrooms are a tasty and popular variety, so growing them at home is a great idea. Although it's a difficult and labor-intensive process, it can be enjoyable and even potentially profitable.
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