How long is the growth cycle of Matsutake?

Growth cycle of Matsutake

The growth cycle of Matsutake itself is also relatively long, generally taking 5-6 years. The growth of Matsutake is mainly divided into four stages: spores form mycelium, mycelium forms mycorrhizae, mycorrhizae give birth to fruiting bodies, and fruiting bodies spread spores.

Matsutake has extremely demanding requirements for its growing environment. It grows best in woodlands with little nutrients and relatively dry areas. It usually parasitizes on the roots of red pine, flat pine, hemlock, and Japanese hemlock.

Growth rate of Matsutake

The growth rate of Matsutake is relatively slow, and it usually takes 5-6 years to be harvested. The reason why Matsutake is rare is that its growth conditions are relatively harsh. Other similar mushrooms mainly grow in relatively fertile soils, while Matsutake avoids fertile soils and can grow in relatively poor soils, especially in virgin forests without human intervention. Therefore, it is rare to see Matsutake in plains or places where people often move around.

Management of Matsutake Growth Cycle

Temperature management: Matsutake is usually planted in autumn, and the growth temperature can be 5-30℃. Production ends when the temperature is higher than 30℃ in the second year.

Fertilization management: When planting Matsutake, you should pay attention to building piles. When planting Matsutake, you can choose corn stalks or wheat straw, as well as sugarcane bagasse or rice straw, and then add an appropriate amount of chemical fertilizer or compound fertilizer, stir them evenly and pile them together. Wait for about 7 days for them to ferment. You can turn them over again after 4 to 5 days, with an interval of about 3 to 4 days each time. Turn them over 5 times, which is about a month. When these materials are fully fermented, they can be used to plant Matsutake.