The growing environment and local conditions of Matsutake

Matsutake Growth Environment and Conditions

Matsutake is suitable for growing in woodlands with little nutrients and slightly dryness. It usually grows in autumn and mainly parasitizes on the roots of red pine, flat pine, hemlock and Japanese hemlock. The main production areas in China are in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau areas such as Sichuan, Tibet and Yunnan. Sichuan has the largest output, Tibet has the best quality, and Shangri-La is the most famous.

Matsutake Growing Conditions

Matsutake is difficult to cultivate and has very strict requirements on the environment. It can only grow in areas without any pollution and human interference. The spores need to parasitize on the roots of pine trees to form a symbiotic relationship. Moreover, the symbiotic tree species need to grow for more than 50 years and rely on the nutritional support provided by the pine trees to grow fruiting bodies.

Matsutake Growth Temperature

The temperature for the growth of Matsutake mushrooms is 16 to 33 degrees, and the suitable growth temperature is 21 to 23 degrees. It is not cold-resistant and grows slowly at temperatures below 18 degrees. It is not high-temperature resistant and grows fast at temperatures above 25 degrees.

The growth process of Matsutake

The growth process of Matsutake is mainly divided into spores growing into hyphae, then growing mycorrhizae, mycorrhizae developing into fruiting bodies, and fruiting bodies spreading spores. This whole process takes 5-6 years.

When the matsutake mushroom blooms and ages, it will scatter 40 billion spores in the air. After being spread by the wind, they will fall under the roots of the pine trees. After rain, they will sink into the shallow soil, and then grow slowly, and then grow hyphae. When the number of hyphae increases, mycorrhizae will be formed. After 5-6 years, a fruiting body will grow from the mycorrhizae, which is what we often call matsutake mushrooms.

Time and method of growing Matsutake

The best time to plant matsutake is in spring, April to May. You must build a pile for planting matsutake. Generally, corn stalks or sugarcane residues are selected, and then basal fertilizer is added to it and mixed evenly. After fermentation, turn it over every five or six days, and then every three or four days. After turning it over about five times, you can plant matsutake.

When planting Matsutake, you need to place the Matsutake seeds on the culture bed, then put a thin layer of soil on it, and pay attention to keeping warm.