The Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus) Cultivation

Photo credits: www.hongosbiofactory.com

The Shaggy Mane or The Ink Cap Mushroom (Coprinus comatus) is a fascinating mushroom.  It is a highly appreciated culinary and medicinal mushroom. It is easy to identify in the field because its characteristic look and it's ability of self-destruction (the whole fruitbody turns into a black ink when spores start to form). It has a wonderful flavor and can be kept no more than two days from the time of picking. Even if this fungus is stored in the fridge after few days the whole fruitbody turns into a black mess therefore young fruiting bodies should be collected and cooked as soon as possible.

Description:  It is a medium sized species. Cap is white becoming brown on top; oval; hairy-scaly, at an intermediate stage the hairs turning outwards.  Gills free, becoming black with spores and liquefying so that the spores are spread by rain. Flesh white  when young. Stem cylindrical, tall, up to 1.5-3 cm in diameter and 5-10 cm in length, white when young.

Ecology: Grows on buried wood, straw in enriched soils. May be found in grass lands, or along road sides.

Cultivation: this species is less sensitive to the substrate on which is cultured, because is quite resistant to the attack of various competitors (parasite fungi or nematods).
For incubation requires 15-25 C/ 33.8-77 F temperature and for mushroom fructification and collection a temperature of 15-18 C/ 59-64.4 F. In addition requires a moderate ventilation of 3-4 air changes /hour. It has the advantage that doesn't require substrate heat treatment.

The incubation time is of 10-20 days from inoculation, while the fructification occurs in 15-25 days from the moment of substrate maturation (the end of spawn run through the substrate mass).

The cultivation substrate: The substrate used for the cultivation of Coprinus includes a combination of straw 60% and manure 31% (cow, horse, pig or chicken), and 1% gypsum. Sawdust is also part of some formulas for the cultivation of this mushroom.
You should take care of the following when cultivation this fungus:
1. The straw used for cultivation should be fresh and free of contamination with other fungi
2. The humidity in the compost should not exceed 65-68% (when squeezed in your hands should not let any water drops)
3. The compost should not have a sour smell.

Steps to follow:
1. First you should water the straw then make it as a compact layer and add the manure to it together with gypsum. You can use a platform on which you can lay down the compost in several layers.
2. Next start to mix everything by turning the compost upside down. In the composting period you should do this mixing 4 times at intervals of 7, 6, 5, and 4 days. In this time fermentation of the compost occurs; however this is also when a sour smell could appear. Avoid this by turning the compost another time.
3. Introduce the compost into plastic recipients (with a height of 10-15 cm) or plastic bags of 40-45 cm in diam for a quantity of 20-25 kg / 44-55.1 lbs of substrate.
4. Inoculate the compost with 600 g /1.32 lbs of Shaggy Mane mycelium to 100 kg / 220.4 lbs of substrate. Simply add the mycelium by mixing it with the compost.
5. Cover the inoculated compost with a plastic foil and apply few holes over its surface. This procedure is done in order to avoid humidity loss and preserve a constant temperature.
6. The inoculation period is rather short: 12-15 days (at 18-20 C/64.4-68 F). At this stage the entire substrate is colonized by mycelium, accompanied by a characteristic spicy smell.
7. On the entirely colonized substrate apply a casing layer composed by moss or soil. This casing layer is essential in preserving humidity and a constant temperature within the compost mass. Use a layer of 2,5-3,5 cm of soil or moss.

After 20-25 days Shaggy Mane fructifications will start to form. During this period start water spraying the casing layer surface 2-3 times/day. and maintain 18 C/ 64.4 F in the grow room. The proper moment of collecting the Shaggy Manes is when the caps are still young and closed (as in the picture shown above).

Find Out More:
Beginner's Guide To Oyster Mushroom Cultivation at Home
How to Grow Oyster Mushrooms on Logs
Growing Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) Mushrooms at Home

The Shaggy Mane has an excellent mild flavor. Check out this video to see a great way to cook this fungus.

References:
Dickson G. 2011. Mushrooms and toadstools of Britain and Europe. New Holand Publishers (UK) Ltd.
Mateescu N. 1982. The mushroom cultivator's guide. Centrocoop, Intr. Polig. Brasov.

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