Laura Smith
Knowing when to harvest your APE mushrooms is crucial to maximising future flushes and getting the most out of your crop. The best way to determine the right time to harvest is to observe the veil, the thin membrane on the underside of the cap that keeps the spores in the mushroom. When the mushroom is mature, the veil tears and releases spores, which will grow the next generation of mushrooms. If the spores are released onto the mycelium cake, it will produce fewer mushrooms in the subsequent flushes. Therefore, it is essential to harvest on time to ensure a continuous and abundant mushroom growth. One general rule to follow is that it is better to harvest too soon than too late. While you may not get the most out of a single mushroom, you avoid the risk of ruining your entire crop. The right time to harvest is just before the veil tears, when it darkens and begins to sag. Additionally, you can gently squeeze the stipe of the largest/oldest fruit, and if it has the same amount of give as a marshmallow, it is ready for harvest.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| General rule | Better too soon than too late |
| Veil | Located on the underside of the cap, covering the gills; light-coloured (grey-white) when juvenile, darkens when ready to harvest |
| Cap | Should be soft when ready to harvest; may lose shine |
| Stem | Should feel like a marshmallow when ready to harvest |
| Colour | If turned colour, likely won't grow much bigger |
| Potency | APE mushrooms are known for higher potency than average cubes |
| Rehydration | Submerge the colonized brick underwater to rehydrate and restart the fruiting process |
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What You'll Learn
Squeezing the cap to check for softness
To employ this method, growers gently squeeze the caps of the largest and oldest fruits. If the cap is firm, the mushroom is not ready to be harvested and still has some growing to do. However, if the cap is soft and yields to the gentle pressure, it is likely ready for harvest. This technique can be used in conjunction with observing the colour of the cap, as mature APE mushrooms tend to have caps that are navy blue and lack shine.
It is important to note that the veil, a thin membrane on the underside of the cap that covers the gills, is also crucial in determining harvest time. In mature mushrooms, this veil tears, releasing spores for the next generation of mushrooms. However, when growing mushrooms indoors, the release of spores onto the mycelium cake can reduce the number of mushrooms produced in subsequent flushes. Therefore, growers should aim to harvest just before the veil tears. The veil is usually fleshy and light-coloured in juvenile mushrooms, darkening and sagging when it is close to tearing.
By combining observations of the veil with the gentle squeeze test, growers can accurately determine the optimal harvest time for their APE mushrooms. This ensures that they maximise future flushes and get the most out of their efforts without risking the loss of their entire crop.
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Colour changes
Cap Colour: The caps of APE mushrooms typically undergo a colour transformation as they mature. Specifically, the caps turn from a shiny navy blue to a dull navy blue or even a grey/tan/greenish hue. This colour change is often accompanied by a loss of shine, giving the caps a slightly shaggy appearance.
Centre of the Caps: In addition to the overall colour change, the centre of the caps may develop a unique grey/tan/greenish hue with a wrinkled texture. This colour change in the centre of the caps is a good indicator of maturity and can help distinguish healthy mushrooms from those that might be aborts.
Softness: Along with colour changes, it is important to monitor the softness of the mushrooms. As APE mushrooms mature, they become softer to the touch. Gently squeezing the mushrooms can help determine their readiness for harvest. If they yield to gentle pressure and feel soft, they are likely ready for harvesting.
Time Considerations: APE mushrooms can take a relatively long time to fruit, often requiring about 5 weeks to reach maturity. Therefore, it is important to be patient and allow adequate time for colour changes to occur. Even if the mushrooms have started to change colour, it is recommended to leave them for a few more days to ensure optimal growth. Waiting a few extra days after the initial colour change can result in larger mushrooms and a more abundant harvest.
It is worth noting that if individual mushrooms have turned colour and appear significantly different from the rest, they may be aborts and might not grow much bigger. However, there is no harm in leaving them for a day or two to observe their progress. Even if they do not increase in size, they can still be harvested, dried, and consumed as they can contribute to the overall yield and experience.
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The veil breaking
The veil is a thin membrane on the underside of a mushroom cap that covers the gills and contains the spores. When the mushroom is ready to release its spores, the veil tears, and the spores are then free to grow into the next generation of mushrooms. When growing mushrooms indoors, this process is undesirable, as the spores can contaminate the mycelium cake and reduce the number of mushrooms produced in subsequent flushes. Therefore, it is essential to harvest the mushrooms before the veil breaks.
The veil is typically fleshy and light-coloured (grey-white) when the mushroom is juvenile. As the mushroom matures, the veil darkens and begins to sag before eventually tearing. To ensure a successful harvest, it is crucial to monitor the veil of each mushroom and harvest just before the veil tears. While it is important not to miss the harvest window, it is better to harvest too early than too late. Harvesting too late can result in reduced potency and a lower yield in subsequent flushes.
One way to determine if an APE mushroom is ready to harvest is to gently squeeze the stipe (stem) of the largest or oldest fruit. If it has the same amount of give as a marshmallow, it is ready for harvest. At this point, all the mushrooms should be harvested simultaneously, regardless of how the rest feel. After harvesting, the mushrooms can be dried and consumed.
To achieve multiple harvests, the colonized brick can be submerged underwater to rehydrate and restart the fruiting process. This technique can be repeated up to three more times, producing up to four flushes in total. However, it is important to note that the timing of the initial harvest is critical to maximizing future flushes and getting the most out of the mushroom crop.
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The size of the mushroom
The veil is a thin membrane located on the underside of the cap that covers the gills of the mushroom. On juvenile mushrooms, the veil is typically fleshy and light-coloured, often grey-white. As the mushroom matures, the veil will start to darken and sag, eventually tearing to release the spores. Harvesting should occur just before the veil tears to maximise future flushes and maintain potency.
To determine the right time to harvest APE mushrooms based on size, gently squeeze the cap. If the cap is still firm, it indicates that the mushroom is still growing and needs more time. A soft cap, on the other hand, suggests that the mushroom is ready for harvest.
Another indicator of readiness is the texture of the stem. One source suggests waiting until the stem feels like a marshmallow before harvesting. This can be tested by gently squeezing the stipe of the largest and oldest fruit. If it has a marshmallow-like texture, it is time to harvest all the mushrooms, regardless of how the rest feel.
It is worth noting that APE mushrooms are known for their slow fruiting process, taking approximately five weeks to reach the harvest stage. The caps of APE mushrooms typically turn navy blue and lose their shine when they are ready to be picked. Additionally, a slightly wrinkled texture around the stipe and a soft texture when gently squeezed indicate that the mushrooms are ready for harvest.
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Rehydrating the colonized brick for multiple harvests
To achieve multiple harvests, you can rehydrate your colonized brick and restart the fruiting process. This is done by submerging the colonized brick underwater. The process of growing mushrooms in grain bags is simple and easy to scale up. It is also a cheap way to grow mushrooms.
Firstly, you need to prepare your rye grain. Rye grain is the best option as mycelium can quickly access the nutrients, speeding up the colonisation time. It also has a higher resistance to contamination compared to other varieties. Put on nitrile gloves and thoroughly wipe the grey injection port with alcohol and chlorhexidine prep pads. Then, attach a sterile needle to your syringe and inject roughly 2ml of fluid through the grey silicone injection port into multiple parts of the bag. Remove the needle and attach a sterile syringe cap. Leave the bag until the white mycelium covers all the rye grain at the bottom of the bag. This process can take 4-8 weeks.
Once the rye grain is colonized by mycelium, break it up and mix it into the top section of the bag. After a few days of misting and fanning, small mushroom "pins" will appear and eventually grow into fully developed mushrooms. Harvest the mushrooms by gently twisting them from the base.
To achieve multiple harvests, simply submerge the colonized brick underwater to rehydrate and restart the fruiting process. Submerge the cake for 10 hours to fruit up to another 1-3 times.
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Frequently asked questions
You can check if the caps have lost their shine and turned navy blue, and the stipe has a bit of a shaggy look. Give one of the mushrooms a gentle squeeze, and if it goes soft, it’s likely ready for harvest.
Harvest the mushrooms by gently twisting them from the base.
If your APE mushrooms have turned colour, they are likely aborts and won't grow much bigger. However, you can leave them for a day or two to see if they continue to grow.
