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Mushroom growth has been suspect to be tied
closely to warming and daily temperature variation. When temperatures are
on the decline, and daily vary is less than 10 degree, mushrooms are slow
to grow. To overcome natural temperatures, a device was invented to
artificially warm mushrooms suspected of needing warmth to grow. |
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The photo on the below shows a patch of
mushrooms fully formed, but not growing for several days. Continued
cooling considered to be inhibiting growth. |
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Below is a device fashioned to heat water in a
plastic Ziploc bag. 1/2 pint canning jar used as reservoir for kerosene,
wick mounted in lid, copper tube run through tin can (flame heats tubing),
and 2 plastic lines running to a bag of water. The device worked well as
long as the heating tube was well below the plastic bag. |
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The bag was then placed over the mushrooms
with the heat source below the bag. Heating was initiated during the night
for two days to limit cooling. |
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Findings |
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No growth was noted for the two nights of
heating. However, the attempt was complicated with a calamity of errors
and poorly thought design. |
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The device for heating water did perform well
when lit. The problem was keeping it going. Wind and rain extinguished the
flame both nights. It is unknown length of heating period, before the
flame was out. Warming at night was also a mistake. Variation in daily
temperatures are a primary influence in growth. Warming during daytime
would have increased daily variation. |
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Conclusions |
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Artificially warming mushrooms to
encourage growth may be possible. However, a larger area of warming will
likely be needed. |
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CAUTION: DO NOT
ATTEMPT DURING DRY PERIODS. ACCIDENTS WOULD CAUSE LITTER LAYER TO IGNITE |
