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HARVEST METHOD
( HOW TO PICK)

HAND METHOD

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.

  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.
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.

HARVEST METHOD USING A TOOL

Deep fruiting in tight soils leave little room for rotating, using hand method. A tool is needed.

USE TOOLS ONLY WHEN HAND METHOD FAILS. NEVER USE TOOLS OVER 1 INCH WIDE

CLEANING

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.

INFESTATION

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.

HARVEST CONTAINER

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.

STORAGE

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.


Photo Examples
Good Picking Habits

 

Harvest Method Effect and Recovery
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