Growing Wood Ear Mushrooms at Home: A Simple Guide for High Yields

Hello fellow agriculture enthusiasts! Today, we’ll delve into the secrets of cultivating wood ear mushrooms (black fungus) at home with a simple method that guarantees impressive yields. A nutritional powerhouse, wood ear mushrooms are a popular ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine. Not only are they delicious, but they also boast numerous health benefits, including boosting the immune system, detoxifying the body, and slowing down the aging process.

With this easy-to-follow technique, you can grow fresh, delicious wood ear mushrooms right in your own home, saving money and ensuring the health and safety of your family. Let’s embark on this journey to conquer this nutritious fungus!

Materials for Growing Wood Ear Mushrooms – Easy to Find, Easy to Use

To successfully cultivate wood ear mushrooms, you’ll need these simple, readily available materials:

1. Sawdust

Sawdust is the primary ingredient in wood ear mushroom cultivation. Rubber tree sawdust is considered the best option. However, you can also use sawdust from other types of wood, as long as they don’t contain essential oils.

Tip: After drying the sawdust, sift it to obtain the fine particles. Then, moisten it with water and pile it into a heap for composting. The composting time for sawdust depends on the type of wood:

  • Softwood sawdust: Compost for about half a month, turning regularly and adding lime (0.5%) to accelerate fermentation.
  • Hardwood sawdust: Requires thorough composting and turning for about 4-5 months before use.

2. Rice Straw

Besides sawdust, rice straw is another common substrate for growing wood ear mushrooms. Choose fresh rice straw, dry it thoroughly, and cut it into short segments of about 5-6cm. Then, soak the straw in water until soft, and remove it to drain.

Note:

Since rice straw is less nutritious than sawdust, supplement it with the following:

  • Lime (1%)
  • Cow, buffalo, chicken, or duck manure (5%)
  • Superphosphate (1%)
  • Epsom salt (0.1%)

Mix the ingredients thoroughly and compost in a sealed container for about 3-4 days, turning regularly for even decomposition.

Sawdust and rice straw are two common substrates for growing wood ear mushrooms.

Sawdust and rice straw, two common substrates used for growing wood ear mushrooms.Sawdust and rice straw, two common substrates used for growing wood ear mushrooms.

3. Nutritional Supplements

Whether you choose sawdust or rice straw as the main substrate, supplement it with nutrients like rice bran (3-5%), corn flour, or ground corn stalks (3-6%) to provide additional nourishment for mushroom growth.

4. Wood Ear Mushroom Spawn

Choosing high-quality mushroom spawn is crucial for yield and quality. Good spawn should meet the following criteria:

  • High quality and disease-free.
  • Even mycelium growth in the substrate bag.
  • Clear origin, supplied by reputable sources.

Growing Wood Ear Mushrooms in Sawdust Bags

Growing wood ear mushrooms in sawdust bags (also known as growing in plastic bags) is the most preferred method due to its advantages:

  • Easy and requires minimal care.
  • Doesn’t require a large growing area.
  • Fast harvest.
  • Low investment cost.

1. Preparing the Plastic Bags

Choose thick plastic bags (about 0.12mm) to withstand pressure and high temperatures during sterilization. Fill each bag with 1kg of the prepared substrate mixture and compact it firmly. Use a hard paper collar to secure the bag’s opening and tie it tightly.

Growing mushrooms in plastic bags saves space and effort.

Plastic bag filled with compacted sawdust, ready for mushroom spawn inoculation.Plastic bag filled with compacted sawdust, ready for mushroom spawn inoculation.

Tip:

Use a bamboo stick to create an air vent from the bag’s opening to the bottom. Then, plug the opening with clean cotton to prevent contamination.

2. Sterilization

Seal the plastic bags and transfer them to a sterilizer at high temperature (around 100°C) for 3-4 hours to eliminate harmful bacteria and mold.

3. Inoculation

After sterilization, allow the bags to cool completely before inoculating with the mushroom spawn.

Note:

  • Inoculate in a clean room equipped with UV lights and sterile tools.
  • Use a specialized inoculation spoon to handle the spawn, avoiding damage.
  • Seal the bags carefully after inoculation.

4. Incubation

Transfer the inoculated bags to a dark room with a temperature of 25-30°C for incubation. After about 3 weeks, the mycelium will colonize the entire bag.

5. Hanging the Bags

Hanging the bags is the optimal method for mushroom growth.

Hang the bags on a rack using strings, spacing each bag 25-30cm apart. Maintain a distance of 3-3.5m between rows for easy access during maintenance and harvesting.

Note:

  • Hang the bags upside down.
  • Use straps to keep the bags about 4cm apart.

6. Slitting the Bags

Once the mycelium has colonized 90-100% of the bag, slit the bags to allow mushroom growth. Use a sharp knife to make 4-5 slits around the plastic bag, each 4-6cm long and 0.5mm deep.

7. Care and Harvest

Care

  • Watering: Two days after slitting the bags, start watering the mushrooms. Use a spray bottle to evenly mist the surface, avoiding direct watering into the slits.
  • Watering frequency: Water 2-3 times a day, depending on the weather conditions.
  • Light: Wood ear mushrooms prefer shade and should be protected from direct sunlight.
  • Temperature: Maintain a room temperature of 25-32°C.

Harvest

After about 1 week of slitting, the mushrooms will start to grow. You can harvest them after 2-3 days.

Fresh, black wood ear mushrooms sprouting from the slits in the plastic bag, ready for harvest.Fresh, black wood ear mushrooms sprouting from the slits in the plastic bag, ready for harvest.

Note:

  • Harvest the wood ear mushrooms by cutting them close to the base with a sharp knife or scissors.
  • Avoid letting the mushrooms grow too large, as this can affect their quality.

8. Storage

Store harvested wood ear mushrooms in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place. You can dry them for longer-term storage.

Conclusion

Growing wood ear mushrooms at home is a simple and effective model suitable for every family. With a little care and patience, you can easily grow your own fresh, nutritious wood ear mushrooms right at home.

Try this simple wood ear mushroom cultivation technique and share your results with “Nongnghiepvietnam.org”! Don’t forget to leave a comment below if you have any questions; we’re always here to help!

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