Mushroom pinning is a crucial step in the development of mushrooms. Within a week or two the mushrooms pin out of the shells.
The mushrooms we eat grow inside without the need for light, and they double in size every day! Growing mushrooms begins with the substrate (an underlying component or layer made up of nutritious material that serves as a mushroom development basis). The next step is spawning; mushroom spawn is utilized by mushroom growers in the same way that farmers and gardeners use seeds. The mixture is then placed on hundreds of beds or trays in a procedure known as bedding.
Casing and pinning occur next; a casing is put over the mushroom bed to keep moisture in. It is followed by pinning, in which mushroom “pins” are thrust up through the shell. Mushrooms are gathered by hand during a 16-35-day period. While mushrooms appear to sprout overnight, an entire manufacturing cycle takes around 15 weeks to complete. Before we learn more about mushroom pinning, let’s take a look at the whole cycle.
Figure 1 Source: Wikipedia Psilocybe tampanensis
This stage of compost preparation is normally done outside, though it can be done in an enclosed building as well. Composting necessitates the use of a concrete slab known as a wharf. A compost turner is also required to aerate and water the components, as well as a tractor-loader to transport the ingredients to the turner. Once the compost is complete, it must be pasteurized. Pasteurization is required to eliminate any bugs or fungi that may be present in the compost and to remove the ammonia that was generated during the first step.
The sterilization of a mixture of rye grain, water, and chalk is the first step in the spawn-making process; wheat, millet, and other small grains can be substituted for rye. Spawn is strewn around the compost before being properly mixed in. The compost temperature is kept at 75°F, and the relative humidity is kept high to minimize drying of the compost surface or the spawn once the spawn has been disseminated throughout the compost and the surface has been leveled. Under these conditions, the spawn will proliferate and form a thread-like network of mycelium throughout the compost.
The spawn-run compost receives a top-dressing of peat moss and powdered limestone or sugar beet lime (also known as clay-loam field soil). Mushrooms will ultimately develop on the surface of the casing. To boost the moisture level before the mushroom pins, develop, water must be provided intermittently throughout the period following casing.
A single sprout can develop into a mycelium from which a mushroom can sprout. Is the mycelium pinning? This is not fully correct as the mushroom pinhead pins and not the mycelium which first has to sprout into the mushroom.
What is Mushroom Pinning?
Mushroom initials occur after rhizomorphs have grown in the case. The initials are quite small, but they might represent rhizomorph outgrowths. Once the initial size quadruples, the structure becomes a pin. As pins proceed through the button stage, they continue to develop and get larger, and a button finally enlarges to become a mushroom. 18 to 21 days after casing, harvestable mushrooms develop.
Fresh air intake timing is crucial and can only be learned via practice. In general, it’s best to keep breathing to a minimum until mycelium forms on the casing’s surface and to stop watering until pin initials emerge. The mycelium stops growing through the casing, and mushroom initials form beneath the casing’s surface if the carbon dioxide level is too low due to premature airing. As a result, the mushrooms keep growing, pushing through the shell, and becoming dirty when plucked. If there isn’t enough moisture, mushrooms can grow beneath the casing’s surface.
Cropping
Break describes the recurring 3-to-5-day harvest periods that occur during a cropping cycle and are always followed by a few days when no mushrooms are available for harvest. When mature mushrooms are picked, a growth inhibitor is removed, allowing the next flush of mushrooms to mature. As a consequence, harvesting can continue for as long as mushrooms mature in significant quantity and frequency, which is usually about 21 days. Proper ventilation, as well as careful regulation of air temperature, humidity, and water, are essential in creating the ideal cropping environment.
Mushroom Pinning Conditions
Mushrooms do not use light for photosynthesis in the same way that plants do; instead, light signals the fungus to enter the fruiting stage. Light would indicate to a fungus that it has reached the exterior of a dung pile and that the position where the light strikes it is optimal for the production of a fruiting body in nature. Almost any type of light source will do the trick. Indirect sunlight and fluorescent bulbs can both be used. To induce pinning and allow the growing mycelium to retain as much water as possible, the humidity in a fruiting chamber must be kept high. The air surrounding the fruiting mycelium should have a relative humidity of at least 90%. To maintain a maintenance-free relative humidity, high surface area materials such as perlite and geolite are typically utilized in a fruiting chamber.
Fruiting temperatures should be between 70- and 79-degrees Fahrenheit (22 and 27 degrees Celsius), which is somewhat lower than the incubation temperature of 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit (24 and 30 degrees Celsius). During fruiting, the mushroom’s mycelium emits less heat than it did during colonization.
What does mushroom pinning look like?
What exactly is pinning? Starting with the Mushroom and ending with Pinning! Pinheads (baby mushrooms) are easy to detect if you know what to look for. Around the holes, you’ll see an upsurge in activity and development. The creation of a little white matchstick or pin occurs as the mycelium thickens. Primordia is a kind of mushroom. Pinheads (baby mushrooms) are easy to detect if you know what to look for. The mycelium colony’s pins will not all grow; in fact, the bulk of them will perish. This makes it simple to identify the healthy pegs that will ultimately sprout into full-grown mushrooms, signaling the beginning of a new mushroom life cycle.
Mushroom Mistakes to Avoid
When it comes to mushroom cultivation, contamination is the most common reason for failure. The primary source of contamination is improper sterilization. Before beginning any job, you must treat all equipment, work surfaces, containers, and gloves with alcohol. The substrate should be completely sterilized. There are no exceptions to the sterilizing technique. To increase one’s chances of success, it is critical to maintain a clean, neat, and sterile work environment.
Beginner mushroom growers are often eager to see the end result. Mushroom cultivation is a time-consuming and precise procedure that should not be rushed. Incomplete preparations or failure to follow and adhere to a single procedure will increase the danger of contamination. Trying to speed through each stage will also result in a high failure rate. Allow your substrate to cool fully before inoculating it. Before beginning the fruiting stage, ensure that Mycelium has completely colonized your substrate.
It is critical to begin using suitable sanitary practices early in your mushroom cultivating adventure. The majority of contamination concerns may be prevented with the correct approach and equipment. Don’t hurry your initial plant’s growth. Be prepared when you begin, and don’t improvise or cut corners at first. Check that your growth circumstances are appropriate for the sort of mushroom you are producing. Humidity, air exchange, light, and temperature are all crucial aspects to monitor at all times. Mycelium that is growing creates its own heat. To prevent cooking your mycelium, aim for a few degrees below the optimal temperature.