Producing
specific fungus, edible in nature called shiitake offers greats opportunities
for earning. It is not just meant for the owners of woodlot or small farm
operators but for those growers that are passionate and love harvesting their
individual produce. One of the other reasons, as to why people love a
cultivation like this is because it is considered of simple activity related
food production, like gardening mostly. Part and the process of growing can be
extremely educating besides being one of the loveliest hobbies. In the points
mentioned below, you shall have idea about the techniques and systems that are
adopted for becoming a professional with marketing and production of the
distinctly edible flavorsome fungus.
Planning long ahead
There shall be no time wasted for cutting any of the
hardwood logs on your own, as there are reputable companies that provide
mycelium bags and color codes to make a better understanding. The
Shiitake Logs from some
of the renowned enterprises like agrinoon.com offer stumps that can
be easily inoculated beforehand. For
reaping better profits and sale of the edible fungus one has to get the stumps
themselves. You would likely to get them because they are rich in vitamins,
proteins and antioxidants. Companies possess expertise and methods of quality
control. Methods are inclusive of high pressure sterilization in shortest time
so that nutrition in them remains intact. Having been kept in an environment
that is pollution free, all through the year, they are sent later to cooling
rooms. After cooling, they are transported to inoculation rooms.
Have them stacked in
shades
After
the Shiitake Logs are purchased, time has to be devoted to them for spawn run.
This is called incubation. Log-cabin or the crib style is the simplest stocking
form where they can be kept off ground. One does not have to fear from the
pests, competing fungi, termites and also sufficient airflow shall be there.
They can easily be stacked on the tops of pallet and other rock surfaces.
Slightly angled orientation that is horizontal works in greater moisture
absorption. Since, these logs are well inoculated, stumps can be expected to
fruit with ten to seven days period after the shading rules have been conformed
to.
Prevention of pests
Snails,
pests or competing fungi as well as slugs often may end up causing serious
levels of damage to the fruiting stumps. However, you must work smart by
incorporating a wide variety of smarter techniques like fences, wire screens,
barriers and repellents so that they are all kept at bay. The logs can also be
mesh covered so that beetles do not lay eggs. Another vital method that can be
adopted includes destroying and handpicking of the slugs whenever they are
found. Adequate ventilation and drainage has to be provided.
Marketing and financing
the stumps
Since,
specialized equipment can get expensive and is also not that much of a
requirement, any producer can experiment production while the markets are
tested. Edible fungus must be sent to the food co-ops and restaurants as
samples. Once, they have been tested and approved on taste you can start your
profit journey.
