Emma Wilson
Enoki mushrooms, also known as enokitake, are a delicious and nutritious gourmet mushroom with significant health benefits. They are commonly used in Asian food but can add flavor and texture to any cuisine. Enoki mushrooms are winter fruiting mushrooms with long white stalks and delicate pinhead caps. They are often the only mushrooms available in winter. While foraging for wild enoki is not recommended due to the presence of toxic look-alikes, growing your own enoki mushrooms at home is easy, especially with a starter kit. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to plant and grow your own enoki mushrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Names | Golden needle mushrooms, velvet foot or velvet shank mushrooms, lily mushrooms, winter or snow puff mushrooms, enokitake (Japan), jingu (China), paengi beoseot (Korea), nim kim châm or tram vang (Vietnam) |
| Scientific Name | Flammulina filiformis |
| Growing Medium | Aged hardwood sawdust |
| Container | Glass bottles |
| Temperature | 70°F —80°F during incubation; 55°F—65°F during fruiting |
| Humidity | 85%—93% |
| CO2 Levels | High |
| Spawn | Sprinkled on substrate or premade grow block |
| Time to Maturity | 2—4 weeks |
| Harvesting | Cut at the base with a sharp knife |
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What You'll Learn
Use a grow kit
Using a grow kit is the easiest way to grow enoki mushrooms. You can purchase a mushroom grow kit online from specialty websites. Basic kits cost around $20-25 and contain enough material to grow mushrooms continuously for 2-4 weeks.
Your grow kit will come with a premade grow block made of compacted substrate material, such as sawdust or straw. To begin growing mushrooms, simply wet the block and store it. Drizzle one cup (240ml) of filtered or distilled water evenly over the grow block. The more evenly you wet the grow block, the more area the mushrooms will have to begin growing. Cover the block with a lid or plastic bag and store it in a dark place.
To grow enoki mushrooms with longer stems and smaller caps, cut open the top of the bag, making enough room for the mushrooms to grow, and seal the top with tape or clips. Your mushrooms will grow inside this CO2-rich environment. Once the mushrooms begin to pin, you can open and/or roll down the bag to allow fresh air in, so the caps become larger.
If you'd like to grow mushrooms with shorter stems and larger caps, let all the air out of your bag and cut a large slit down the side of the bag. Your mushrooms will grow from this slit with plenty of access to oxygen. After harvesting, mist the block daily to get a second flush of mushrooms.
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Prepare the substrate
To prepare the substrate for growing enoki mushrooms, you can either purchase a pre-made substrate or prepare your own. Pre-made substrates are available online from specialist websites and can save you time and effort. If you want to prepare your own substrate, you'll need to gather the necessary materials and follow some important steps.
Firstly, you'll need to select a growing medium, which can be aged hardwood sawdust. This growing medium will serve as the substrate for your enoki mushrooms to grow in. Make sure you have enough growing medium to fill your chosen containers. Speaking of containers, you'll want to select glass containers that can be sterilised. Sterilisation is an important step to ensure that your growing environment is free from contaminants that could hinder the growth of your mushrooms.
Once you've prepared your containers, it's time to mix the spawn into the growing medium. The spawn is essentially the "seeds" of the mushroom, containing the mycelium that will grow and produce mushrooms. You can find spawn specifically for enoki mushrooms online or at specialty stores. Thoroughly mix the spawn into the growing medium, ensuring an even distribution.
After mixing, fill your sterilised containers with the spawn-infused growing medium. Pack it in tightly, removing any air pockets, and level off the surface. At this point, your substrate is almost ready, but you'll need to find a suitable place to store your containers. Enoki mushrooms thrive in specific temperature and humidity conditions, so choose a location that can maintain temperatures between 72-77°F (22-25°C).
Consider using a digital thermostat controller to precisely manage the temperature. Additionally, maintain humidity levels within the ideal range of 85%-93% relative humidity. You can achieve this by using a small ultrasonic humidifier and placing your setup under a humidity dome or inside a grow tent. By preparing the substrate with care and providing the right environmental conditions, you'll be well on your way to successfully cultivating delicious and nutritious enoki mushrooms.
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Maintain temperature
Maintaining the right temperature is crucial for successfully cultivating Enoki mushrooms. Enoki mushrooms are unique in that they prefer cooler temperatures compared to other cultivated mushrooms. They are winter-fruiting mushrooms, so they thrive in colder conditions.
During the incubation stage, when the growing bag turns white, maintain a steady temperature range of 70°F to 80°F (21°C to 27°C). This stage typically lasts between 8 to 14 days, during which you should see the bag turn white as the mushrooms prepare to grow. A digital thermostat controller is an excellent tool to help you precisely manage the temperature during this critical period.
Once the incubation period is over, it's time for the fruiting phase. At this stage, Enoki mushrooms require even cooler temperatures, so adjust your environment to a range of 55°F to 65°F (13°C to 18°C). This temperature shift mimics the natural transition from autumn to winter, triggering the mushrooms to fruit.
If your home has a room with air conditioning, it can be an ideal location for growing Enoki mushrooms. By setting up your mushroom operation in this controlled environment, you can easily achieve the desired temperature range. Additionally, consider using a small ultrasonic humidifier to maintain optimal humidity levels, which should be within the range of 85% to 93% relative humidity.
To retain moisture effectively, place your setup under a humidity dome or inside a grow tent. A tabletop humidity dome is a good option for this purpose. Combine the humidity dome with a digital hygrometer to ensure that the humidity levels stay within the required range.
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Manage humidity
Humidity is a crucial factor in cultivating enoki mushrooms successfully. Enoki mushrooms require high humidity levels, and maintaining the ideal range is essential for optimal growth. Here are some detailed instructions to manage humidity during the cultivation process:
Firstly, invest in a small ultrasonic humidifier to maintain the desired humidity levels. This device will help you keep the humidity within the ideal range of 85% to 93%. Place your enoki setup under a humidity dome or inside a grow tent to effectively retain moisture. The combination of a humidifier and a humidity dome will create a controlled environment with consistent humidity levels.
Secondly, utilize a digital hygrometer to monitor the humidity levels. Place the hygrometer inside the humidity dome or grow tent to ensure it accurately measures the humidity in the immediate vicinity of the growing enoki mushrooms. This tool will provide you with data to make any necessary adjustments to your setup.
Additionally, maintain the recommended temperature conditions during the different phases of growth. During the incubation phase, when the growing bag turns white, maintain a steady temperature range of 70°F to 80°F. For the fruiting phase, adjust the environment to cooler temperatures between 55°F and 65°F. These temperature ranges will support the development of enoki mushrooms and can be more easily controlled when combined with humidity management.
Finally, consider the placement of your enoki mushroom cultivation. If possible, choose a room with access to an air conditioning unit. This will allow you to set the perfect environment for your mushrooms and make adjustments as needed to maintain the desired humidity and temperature levels.
By following these steps and paying close attention to humidity levels, you can create the optimal environment for your enoki mushrooms to thrive.
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Harvesting techniques
Harvesting enoki mushrooms at the right time and using proper techniques is crucial to enjoy them at their peak freshness and flavour. Here are some tips to help you maximise your yield and maintain the quality of your harvest.
Timing is Key
Wait until the mushrooms reach a desirable size, typically around 2-4 inches in length, before harvesting. The caps should be fully formed and tightly closed, and the stems should be slender and firm. The mushrooms will typically be ready for harvest within 1-2 weeks of the pins forming.
Harvesting Process
To harvest, use a sharp knife or a pair of clean, sharp scissors to cut the mushroom clusters at the base of the stems, where they meet the growing medium. Be gentle and careful not to damage the surrounding mushrooms or the growing medium. Remove both the mushrooms and any remaining mycelium (the white, thread-like structure) from the growing medium to prevent the accumulation of decaying matter, which can negatively impact future mushroom growth.
Handling and Storage
Enoki mushrooms have delicate, slender stems that require careful handling to avoid damage. Gently brush off any excess dirt or substrate using a soft brush or a damp cloth. After cleaning, separate the mushroom clusters into individual stems for easier cooking and presentation. To maintain freshness, store the harvested mushrooms in a breathable container in the refrigerator. Enoki mushrooms typically have a shelf life of 7 to 14 days when stored at temperatures between 7-10°C (44.6-50°F).
Regrowing Enoki Mushrooms
You can regrow enoki mushrooms by cutting off the base of the stems and placing them in a sterile, nutritious growing medium, such as moistened coffee grounds. Cover the container and place it in a warm, dark place. The mushrooms should sprout within a few days and can be harvested when they are about an inch tall.
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Frequently asked questions
The easiest way to grow enoki mushrooms is to use a starter kit with a premade grow block. Simply add water, store the block in a dark place, and wait 2-4 weeks for your first set of mushrooms to grow.
During incubation, maintain a steady temperature of 70°F to 80°F. For fruiting, adjust the environment to cooler temperatures between 55°F and 65°F.
Prepare your own substrate material and sprinkle it with starter spawn, which you'll then keep moist for 2-4 weeks.
