When is the best time to plant velvet antler mushrooms?

Deer antler mushroom, also known as monkey antler and deer horn vegetable , is a rare edible mushroom . Its appearance looks like deer antler that has been shrunk several times. It tastes delicious and is rich in nutrients. It is known as a "treasure mushroom species." So when is the best time to plant deer antler mushrooms? Let’s learn more about it below.

When is the best time to plant velvet antler mushrooms?

Deer antler mushroom is suitable for planting in spring and autumn. In spring, the best time to plant is mid-March to mid-April, while in autumn, you can choose to plant from the end of August to mid-September.

What are the conditions for growing velvet antler mushrooms?

1. Bacteria

To grow antler mushrooms, you must first prepare the mushroom strains. The sources of Deer antler mushrooms are diverse. You can purchase pure spore liquid from regular channels, or you can collect mature fruiting bodies of wild Deer antler mushrooms for separation and purification. Before sowing, the strains must undergo strict disinfection to ensure that they are pure and free of foreign bacteria.

2. Mushroom bed

Wood chips, straw, corn cobs and other materials can be used to make the mushroom bed. After disinfection, add an appropriate amount of antler mushrooms, stir evenly and cover with plastic wrap.

3. Temperature

Deer antler mushroom is a low-temperature fungus, and the most suitable growth temperature is between 15℃-22℃. In the hot summer, we should pay attention to shading and cooling, and in the cold winter, we should do a good job of insulation.

4. Humidity

The humidity should be kept at 60-80%, and auxiliary equipment can be added to humidify it appropriately.

5. Lighting

Deer antler mushrooms belong to low-light fungi, and the light intensity should not be too high. The appropriate light intensity is 1500-2000 lux.

6. Water and fertilizer

Deer antler mushrooms have high requirements for water, but when watering, you should also use a slow and fine watering method to avoid water accumulation caused by large amounts of water at one time. You can use a watering can or a drip irrigation system to ensure that the water is evenly distributed over the growing medium. In terms of fertilization, organic fertilizer is mainly used in the early stage. In the middle and late stages, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be applied in appropriate amounts depending on the growth of mycelium to promote the differentiation and development of fruiting bodies.

In general, deer antler mushroom is a rare edible mushroom with extremely rich nutrition, large market demand and good planting prospects. However, in the process of growing deer antler mushrooms, we must pay attention to regulating and managing temperature, humidity, light, water, fertilizer and other conditions. If the environment is right, the mushroom can be harvested when the stipe grows to 3-5cm and the cap is umbrella-shaped.