How to cultivate Pleurotus cornucopiae
How to cultivate Pleurotus cornucopiae
The Golden mushroom (Pleurotus cornucopiae (Paulet) Roll.) Is a fungus that in the natural state is very rare and has a typical yellow citrine color of the cap, can reach a diameter of about 10 cm, deeply funnel-shaped (just like a cornucopia ).
The cultivation of the “Cornucopia” began in 1981. The following materials are normally used for the cultivation of Pleurotus cornucopiae: pasteurized straw or sterilized wood sawdust, with higher yields when nutritional supplements (such as cotton seed) are added.
As for the incubation of the substrate, this lasts for 10-14 days, with temperatures of 24-29 ° C. During this period, in the cultivation environment, light is not necessary but above all a high level of carbon dioxide and air humidity. The thermal shock (21-27 ° C), the light stimulus (500-1000 lux) and the lowering of the CO2 rate represent, also in this case, the stimulus to the formation of primordia.
With the cultivation of Pleurotus cornucopiae, generally, two flies are collected.
For the details of the cultivation technique, you can proceed as follows. In the meantime, you must procure good quality wheat straw; it should be cut into pieces of 2-3 cm and watered with water for 1-2 days, stirring so that it is evenly moist and leaving it to drain.
At this point you need to get plastic bags of about 5-10 liters (type of freezer). Proceed by mixing the wet straw with the mycelium and filling the bags; these fold up without sealing so that the mycelium can breathe.
From this moment on, the bag must be kept inoculated at 24-29 ° C for 30-40 days until all the straw is invaded by a white mold with a pleasant smell. At this point you have to move the bag on the terrace or in the garden, in a corner in perpetual shade and sheltered from the wind. It is therefore necessary to cut the upper part of the plastic bag by trimming it at the level of the compound and covering it with 2-3 cm of field soil which must be kept moist. The first mushrooms will begin to be born after about 15-20 days from the opening of the sack. We point out that the ideal temperature for the birth of the mushrooms is: 15-25 ° c and the necessary amount of mycelium is 100 gr. of mycelium per 10 liters of straw.
If you still think the result is too complex and insecure because of your experience, there are ready-to-grow kits on the market, already containing useful recommendations.
These packages are already complete with the inoculated substrate and contained in plastic covers. Once the package has been received, proceed to make 2-3 cm small ones on the plastic wrapping the substrate; mushrooms will sprout from these cuts. Finally, some information on Pleurotus cornucopiae. It is a fungus of good edibility but a pre-boiling is recommended to remove the intense odor. It has an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect, it helps to increase the defenses of the immune system. Suitable for a low-calorie diet, it contains few calories and fats, a moderate content of proteins, carbohydrates and fiber, it is rich in minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and iron, vitamin B1 and B2 and folic acid. In the kitchen, it is mainly used for the preparation of risottos and to season pasta, also excellent for drying.