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HARVEST METHOD
( HOW TO PICK)
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HAND METHOD |
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Proper
harvest methods are essential to achieve full production potential.
Production decreases as disturbance increases.
When you find a mushroom, remove litter and soils covering the cap. |
Place your hand around the
cap and or stem and wiggle in a circular motion.
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DO NOT TWIST
Replace all soils and litter to its natural look.
6 Sec Hand Picking Video
(331kb) |
Place your hand around the
cap and or stem, rock side to side.
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Almost all
may be harvested using this method. Never cut a matsutake, they have a minimum commercial value when
cut. |
Occasionally mushrooms are
tightly clustered and only 1 is mature enough to harvest. Care should
be taken to limit damage to immature to remain.
Place your fingers on top of the immature, press down. Gently remove
mature. This leaves young mushrooms undamaged, insuring another
harvest. |
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HARVEST METHOD
USING A TOOL |
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Deep fruiting in tight soils leave little room for rotating, using
hand method. A tool is needed. |
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USE TOOLS ONLY
WHEN HAND METHOD FAILS. NEVER USE TOOLS OVER 1 INCH WIDE
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CLEANING
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Hold the
mushroom by the stem, cap up. Gently tap the top with your hand. Brush
the cap and stem with a piece of bed foam. Remove needles, leaves, and
soil from both. Do not clean veil area. |
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INFESTATION
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Worms, fly larvae, is the most common infestation noted. To
find worms, squeeze the stem. If you feel soft spots that run up and
down, it probably has worms. Hoppers is another infestation. Examine
the gill area for tiny red hopping insects. Infested mushrooms have a
minimum or no commercial value. |
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HARVEST CONTAINER
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The best
container is a plastic bucket. Drill holes in side and bottom to allow
air circulation, and put a lid on. Stack the mushrooms in the bucket, gills down. The gill
area is the focus of commercial value. Take precautions to protect it.
Pack the bucket as tight as possible. Never leave mushrooms in the
sun. Always set your container in the shade. Warmth matures mushrooms
even after the are harvested. |
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STORAGE
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Cool
storage is important during warm periods. Place 2 to 3 inches of ice
in an ice chest. Insert a basket and mushrooms. Cover with a damp
cloth and close the lid. Do not allow ice water to reach mushroom.
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