How to plant Cordyceps and when to plant it?

Cordyceps , also known as Cordyceps sinensis, is a precious Chinese medicinal material with very high nutritional and medicinal value. It is mainly distributed in high-altitude and cold areas such as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Wild resources are very scarce and expensive. There is currently a small amount of artificial cultivation, so how should Cordyceps be planted and when should it be planted? Let’s learn more about it below.

When should Cordyceps be planted?

If Cordyceps sinensis is propagated using natural temperature, it can be planted in spring from March to May or autumn from September to November each year. If it is propagated in a greenhouse, it can be cultivated all year round, and the growth period can be shortened, reducing labor costs.

How to grow Cordyceps?

1. Preparation of strains

The cultivation of Cordyceps sinensis requires pure strains. Now there are many companies selling pure strains of Cordyceps sinensis on the market, and there are many varieties. We must choose strains with high purity, no foreign bacteria, no aging, strong infectivity, vitality, adaptability, and resistance.

2. Larvae preparation

The body of Cordyceps sinensis is the larvae of the plateau bat moth, but this type of larvae is very aggressive towards each other and is not easy to survive, making it unsuitable for large-scale cultivation. We can choose fat mulberry silkworms or tussah silkworms as a substitute.

3. Environment

The key to the artificial cultivation environment of Cordyceps sinensis is temperature. The suitable temperature is 5-32℃, and the most suitable temperature for the growth of Cordyceps sinensis is 12-18℃. As long as this temperature is met, it can be planted.

4. Density

Generally, for every square meter of Cordyceps sinensis planted, 1,000 grams of larvae, one tube of mother culture, and 50 liters of fine sand are needed.

5. Planting method

(1) Box planting

Prepare a wooden box or a wooden basin, or a plastic basin is also fine, and wrap the bottom of the box with plastic film to prevent moisture loss. Spread 5~7 cm of fine sand on the bottom of the box, and then evenly place the fungi and worms, with a distance of 2~3 cm between each fungi and worms. After placing the fungi and worms, spread a layer of 3~5 cm thick sand on top, and use plastic film to arch the surface to keep it moist.

(2) Open field planting

Choose a good site that is not exposed to direct sunlight or rain. It is best to choose a place that can provide shade, drainage, drought prevention, and heat preservation. After selecting a site, shovel out 15 cm thick surface soil, fill it with about 5 cm thick sand, place the fungi and insects in a box planting manner, then cover it with 5 to 7 cm thick Xisha sand, cover the surface with plastic film , and do a good job of drainage and shading.

That’s it