Mushroom cultivation methods

The most common ways of professional and amateur cultivation of mushrooms are the cultivation in bags and the cultivation in tree trunks.
Below we will see the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

Cultivation in bags

Advantages

• Quick method.The induction stage lasts 2-4 weeks (depending on the type of fungus and environmental conditions)
• Cultivation success.You can see if you will have production or not. Due to the transparency of the bag, you can easily see if the mycelium (seed) has completely colonized the substrate and also notice if there is any infection.
• Sowing yield. Cultivation in bags allows complete control of the quantities of substrate componets which allows you to calculate the overall yield of the crop.
• High quality mashrooms. Mashrooms need nutrients to grow. by using a mixture of substrate, such as agricultural by-products (straw, firewood, sawdust, etc) you will provide the mashrooms with protein, vitamins and other minerals that are essential for the healthy growth and ultimately a high quality harvest.
• Raw materials.You can find a variety of raw materials for your mushrooms. Even in urban centers there are options, such as waste from your home, or even in parks.
• Management of depleted substrates. Used substrates can be recycled and used as soil conditioners. This fact, in addition to protecting the environment, can also improve income if one works professionally.

Disadvantages

• Cultivation process. Things get a little difficult here. One of the most important stages in mushroom cultivation is the management and pasteurization of the substrate.
• Accuracy.There must be absolute accuracy in weighing the ingredients and add plaster or marble dust if necessary.
• Effort.Growing mushrooms in bags requires more control and attention, for the same amount of mushrooms that would grow on trunks.
• Cultivation chamber.You will definitely need a room designed and equipped for your cultivation, which will provide a healthy environment, suitable temperature, humidity and light intensity.

Cultivation on tree logs

Advantages

• Long-term harvest. This is the main reason why many growers choose this method of cultivation. It is possible to harvest 2-4 times (depending on climatic conditions)
• Stable environmental conditions. Inside a trunk, both humidity and temperature remain constant. This, of course, depends on the cultivation technique.
• Effort.Compared to growing in bags, growing in logs requires less work, for the same number of mushrooms.
• Cultivation chamber. Cultivation on trunks does not require a cultivation chamber.
• Management of depleted logs. One can use the logs after the end of the cultivation, either for fuel for heating, or in companies with firewood, in order to increase their income, if they are professionally engaged in the cultivation of mushrooms in logs.

Disadvantages

• First Harvest.Depending on the type of wood one uses, one will have to wait more than 14 months (hardwood) and 8 months (softwood).
• Humidity.Moisture inside the trunk must be maintained. This is achieved by spraying them with water at regular intervals.
• Succesfull harvest .Unlike bagging, trunks are more prone to infections. This is due to their exposure to air, which is more harmful than the air in a culture chamber, due to the harmful organisms contained in it.
• Ποικιλία ειδών. Not all kinds can be grown, such as Maitake.
• Kίνδυνοι μόλυνσης.There is a possibility that billions of spores will spread to the surrounding plants in your garden, which is undesirable, especially if it is a fruit tree.
• Encourages deforestation. The environmental danger that arises from the professional cultivation of mushrooms in logs is the massive deforestation of forests.

CONCLUSION

It all depends on the purpose of your cultivation.
Do you want to grow mushrooms as a hobby or as a means to earn some income?
If you want quality mushrooms in a short time, then you should probably turn to growing them in bags. It does take a lot of effort, but the chances of success are also higher.
Conversely, if you want to grow mushrooms for a long time with less effort, for your personal and family needs or for friends, then you probably need to focus on growing trunks.
In general, bagging is considered more suitable for commercial mushroom cultivation
You should definitely keep in mind the management of residues after cultivation and how it will be environmentally friendly.