How to Properly Use Mushroom Casing Material
Mushroom Casing Material
Mushroom Casing is an industry term that describes a wide range of products and materials used in mushroom growth. Typically, mushroom case material is referred to as casing or tube material. This type of product is a vital part of the mushroom growing and processing process. Because mushroom cases can be very specialized, there are many manufacturers who offer high quality products. A one-stop resource for easily accessing and purchasing high-quality, ready to use, online journals, text books, and informational databases from the leading manufacturers of mushroom equipment and mushroom growing products in the world.
There are three stages in most all mushroom production. The initial casing stages occur before any other mushroom growth stages begin. Mushroom casing layers are crucial to the success of all mushroom production procedures. Effective mushroom casing material plays a key role in the success of every stage of mushroom growth from seedling growth to fully developed and ready to harvest mushrooms.
The proper type of casing material has a very significant impact on the productivity of any mushroom growing operation. Good casing layers should be comprised of a high grade of high-molecular weight polyethylene or HDPE. High molecular weight polyethylene is recommended because it allows heat to be conducted efficiently within the casing material itself, and provides superior moisture resistance. There are three types of materials often used in mushroom cases, which include fiberglass, corrugated cardboard, and corrugated fiberboard. Most mushroom farmers use fiberboard because it provides excellent drainage, but does not retain moisture well and must be replaced after each crop.
How to Properly Use Mushroom Casing Material
After mushrooms have been harvested, they must be kept in good condition for up to about a year to improve their quality and extend their life span. Good mushroom casing material will also greatly reduce the risk of fungi seeking out and damaging the harvested product during transport. One excellent option is to make use of a black peat based casing material. This special type of corrugated cardboard is often made with a black peat moss which is known to inhibit fungi growth by half. Although making use of black peat based corrugated cardboard can increase the total amount of money you spend on mushroom farming, it also offers the mushroom farmer significant benefits due to the fact that it decreases contamination and germination times.
It is very fortunate that mycelial overgrowth is one of the least dangerous conditions that can affect mushrooms. This means that mushroom farmers can employ a range of different methods to protect their product, including the use of effective mushroom casing. A recent mushroom delivery I received stated that it had taken them six months to eradicate all possible Mycobacterium species, after which only a single casing spawn was necessary to obtain optimal growth rates. Their success is attributed in part to the mold-killing ingredient present in their casing spawn, which acts as a natural fungicide. The mycelial spawning process itself also demonstrates the effectiveness of mushroom casing, which has successfully deterred a number of potential harmful mushroom diseases.
Mushroom farmers are able to save considerable sums of money by using mushroom mycelium instead of traditional casing layers. However, the most important savings is provided to the consumer by utilizing this organic material to create the most effective possible mushroom inoculation process. Mushroom farmers are able to reduce the time required to cultivate mushrooms with an effective mushroom inoculating system. Mycelial overgrowth prevention requires high-quality products that completely eliminate any possibility for mycelium to rapidly spread through the mycelial network, preventing disease and contamination from taking place. Therefore, it is extremely important that you carefully choose a reputable supplier to ensure that you receive high-quality, effective, natural-occurring mushroom inoculating products.
