THE MUSHROOM GROWING ROOM

An airtight room is an essential feature of the mushroom growing environment, preventing insects and spores from entering as well as giving the cultivator full control over the fresh air supply. During The construction or modification of the room, all cracks, seams and joints should be carefully sealed. 

The discharge of air at velocities sufficient to draw in surrounding room air is called entrainment, a phenomenon that enhances the capacity of the air circulation system. A flow pattern of even air is (hen reached that directly benefits the growing mushrooms. The entrainment of air is the goal of air management in the growing room. 

Most mushroom growers use steam as the principal means of humidification. The steam is injected into the air system duct on the downstream side of the fan and filter. Household vaporizers are well suited for small growing rooms. They are available in various capacities and can be fined with a duct running to the air system. The vaporizer can also be positioned under the mixing box for steam uptake with the recirculated air. Keep in mind that cold fresh air has much less capacity for moisture absorbtion and therefore does not mix well with large volumes of steam. 

For the home cultivator the onset of cropping is a time of excitement and anticipation. It is also a time for increased attention to the finer details of environmental control. Temperature, humidity. light and airflow in the growing room all play vital roles which together determine the nature of further mushroom development. 

The growing room and all containers should be washed and disinfected between crops. Wood in particular harbors contaminants, including virus infected mushroom mycelium. Treatment of wood with cuprinol or copper sulfate is common. Petroleum based products should be avoided. 

Since mushroom mycelium grows within the substrate, the substrate temperature must be monitored closely. Thermometers are placed both in the center of the substrate—the hottest region —and in the room s atmosphere. These two thermometers establish a temperature differential. Ifthe hottest point in the substrate is 80 ° F. and the air is 70 ° F. then the temperature of the total mass must lie within this range. 

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