Content
Ryzhiki are a group of edible mushrooms that have a rich composition and excellent taste. They are usually collected in coniferous forests, tall grass and clearings. Growing saffron milk caps is also possible in the garden. There are features that are taken into account during the breeding process. Mycelium germinates in coniferous substrate. Mushrooms need warmth, high humidity and moderate light.
Is it possible to grow saffron milk caps in the country?
Camelina is a lamellar mushroom that is used in cooking all over the world. It is characterized by a convex shape of the cap, which over time becomes funnel-shaped. Young specimens have curved edges, but gradually they straighten out. The leg is powerful, of regular cylindrical shape.
Various varieties are found in nature: common camelina, spruce, pine, Japanese, alpine. They all have different habitats, sizes and colors. The color of the cap can be either pink-yellow or bright red. The color of the stem is usually lighter.
In nature, saffron milk caps are found in coniferous forests. They prefer illuminated areas: forest edges, young forests, hills, and the sides of paths.They develop best in sandy soil and grow in groups in the forests of the Central region of Russia, Siberia, the Urals and the Far East. They are collected from June to October.
Conditions for growing saffron milk caps in the garden:
- light partial shade;
- good air circulation;
- moist acidified soil;
- no moisture stagnation.
Growing saffron milk caps at home is almost impossible. They require certain indicators of illumination, humidity, and soil composition that are as close as possible to natural ones. If some factors do not correspond, then the likelihood of obtaining a harvest will be significantly reduced.
How to grow saffron milk caps in the garden
To grow saffron milk caps on a plot, you need to complete a number of steps. First, a suitable place is selected for the mycelium and prepared for planting. Then they buy or get their own mycelium. To obtain a good harvest, the plantings are provided with care.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
To grow saffron milk caps in your garden plot, it should be properly prepared. Sunny places are not suitable for planting, nor is dense shade. The best option is to plant the mycelium next to a spruce or pine tree. The mycelium enters into symbiosis with coniferous trees.
If pine or spruce trees do not grow nearby, it is recommended to prepare coniferous bedding. To do this, 2 cubic meters are dug out of the forest. m of soil along with fallen needles.
The composition of the soil at the site is analyzed. If the soil is neutral or alkaline, then it must be acidified. It is best to use pine litter or sawdust. In such a substrate, growing saffron milk caps will be most successful.
Planting mushrooms requires compost. Any ready-made soil for plants rich in peat will do. Mycelium will develop in it.Additionally, you will need moss, fallen leaves and pine needles from the forest.
Sowing
To grow saffron milk caps, planting material is required. It is obtained in one of the following ways:
- they collect mushrooms in the forest and process them;
- use purchased mycelium;
- the mycelium is transferred along with the top layer of soil.
To obtain mycelium yourself, old mushrooms are collected in the forest. The caps are cut off from the legs, after which they are divided into small parts. The material is dried, after which planting begins. Soaking the caps in warm water with sugar will help speed up the germination of mycelium. After a day, the mass is kneaded by hand and used for sowing.
The second way to grow saffron milk caps is to buy ready-made mycelium. Ready-made substrates are available for sale that do not require special preparation. Usually the package is enough for planting next to one tree.
Immediately before planting, the material is soaked in the growth stimulator Baikal EM-1. This will improve the germination of saffron milk caps by 40 - 70%.
To successfully grow saffron milk caps, sowing is carried out from May to October. Mycelium is not planted in frozen soil: this will lead to its death. If there has been a recent frost, it is better to postpone work until the ground warms up.
The procedure for planting saffron milk caps using prepared mycelium:
- A hole of any shape is carefully dug next to the selected conifer. Its volume should be 2 - 3 liters. Try not to damage the roots of the tree. They retreat from the trunk no more than 2 m.
- 1 liter of water is poured into the recess. It is cleared of plants and stones.
- When the moisture is absorbed, the hole is filled 1/3 with compost: soil from a coniferous forest or ready-made soil.
- Then the mycelium purchased or obtained independently is placed.
- Compost is again poured on top.
- The planting site is sprayed with a spray bottle. Water consumption – 1 liter for each hole.
- The soil around the mycelium is also moistened, but at least 1 bucket of water is poured out.
- Fallen leaves, pine litter, and moss are poured on top.
A more labor-intensive growing process is to use mycelium from the forest. In the area where saffron milk caps grow, a layer of earth measuring 30x30 cm is dug to a depth of 25 cm. During the work, it is important not to damage the integrity of the soil.
A hole is first prepared on the site, where the dug mycelium is immediately transferred. It is better to carry out work in the morning or evening. The soil is then watered with rainwater. The earth is moved under the same trees under which it was in the forest.
Care
Camelinas grow in high humidity conditions. On average, they are watered every week. If precipitation occurs frequently, then additional moisture is not required. For each mycelium take 3 liters of water. It is best to use rainwater. Do not allow the soil to dry out.
Saffron milk caps grow in warm and humid weather. If there is a drought or cold snap, then humus up to 15 cm thick is poured onto the mycelium. The mulch layer retains moisture in the soil and serves as additional insulation.
In nature, saffron milk caps do without human intervention and do not require fertilizer. This is due to the presence of symbiotic relationships in nature. When growing saffron milk caps in the country, fertilizing is required.
Minerals are not used as fertilizer. Their excess negatively affects the growth of mycelium. It is best to use biological stimulants. They are a complex of bacteria that are safe for humans and the environment. As a result, a favorable ecosystem is created for the development of saffron milk caps.
Biostimulants are added in the spring to activate mycelial growth. The drugs Emistim, Biolan or Stimpo are used. The selected product is diluted with water to obtain a solution with a concentration of 1%. They water the place where mushrooms are planted. The biostimulator increases the yield of saffron milk caps, promotes the growth of mycelium, improves immunity, and inhibits the development of mold and harmful fungi.
Treatments are stopped after the first saffron milk caps appear. This mycelium does not require additional feeding. Until the end of the season, the plantings are regularly watered.
Harvesting
When growing saffron milk caps, the first harvest is obtained the following year. The fruiting period is 5 - 6 years. Mushrooms begin to be collected in June. These dates depend on weather conditions and preparatory activities.
To extend the life of the mycelium, it is watered with a solution of the drug Baikal EM-1. The product contains beneficial bacteria that stabilize the environment in which mushrooms grow. The regeneration of mycelium cells and tissues also improves. With the help of the Baikal EM-1 stimulator, the fruiting of saffron milk caps increases to 8 years.
If the technology for growing camelina is followed, from 5 to 15 specimens are collected from one tree per year. This is a small harvest, but it is enough for personal needs. Therefore, such mushrooms are not suitable for cultivation on an industrial scale. Fruiting lasts until September.
The saffron milk caps are removed when their cap takes on a funnel shape. Avoid overripening of fruiting bodies. If the crop is not harvested on time, the fruiting bodies will become food for worms. The leg is carefully cut off at the base. At the same time, they try not to damage the mycelium.
Saffron milk caps have a wide range of applications.They are used for pickling and salting for the winter. In cooking, they are boiled or fried in a frying pan. This does not require lengthy processing: it is enough to scald the fruiting bodies with boiling water. They go well with other foods as a side dish or salad, and can also be used as a layer in a casserole or cooked in pots
Conclusion
Growing saffron milk caps on your own plot will allow you to harvest a good harvest of mushrooms. At the same time, it is necessary to provide a number of conditions that are as close as possible to natural ones. After choosing a site, planting begins. During the growing process, saffron milk caps require minimal care. Particular attention is paid to soil moisture.
