Do you need tips for growing shiitake mushrooms? look no further;
Shiitake Mushrooms.
For this article, we take a look at shiitake mushroom cultivation.
Background information.
They are edible mushrooms from a variety of over two thousand species that are known to be edible. Shiitake mushrooms were first cultivated by the eastern Asian communities after they discovered their health benefits.
Originally, shiitake mushrooms grew wild in the mountains and forests due to the favorable conditions at these sites.
Later on, the vegetable has gained popularity among countries, and many have adopted and practiced their cultivation. Taiwan has emerged to be the leading country in commercial cultivation of the shiitake species.
Being the second most cultivated mushroom, shiitake contains a lot of health benefits to the consumer.
Shiitake Health Benefits
Shiitake contains lentinan, which is an approved drug by many countries. Lentinan, a polysaccharide has been shown to have several health benefits to mankind.
Shiitake has also been found to contain essential amino acids whose proportion is higher than that of milk, meat, and eggs.
Furthermore, Shiitake mushrooms have a good blend of vitamins and minerals, which includes vitamin A, B, B12, C & D. Other medicinal properties contained by shiitake include:
- Anti-cholesterol active substances.
- Platelet agglutination inhibitive substances.
- Antiviral nucleic acids.
- Antitumor polysaccharides activity and glycoproteins.
Shiitake health benefits are countless hence their high demand and consequently being the mostly cultivated mushroom variety.
Shiitake Cultivation Medium
These mushrooms have been successfully cultivated on logs as they neutrally grow.
Figure 1 Shiitake Mushrooms on a log (Photo: Courtesy)
However, more ways to domesticate the vegetable have been developed. For example, many farmers are adopting the modern ways.
Notably, sawdust cultivation and enriched substrate are some of the modern ways adopted to cultivate shiitake mushrooms.
Bags are used to hold the substrate and support the growth of the mushrooms.
Shiitake Cultivation in Kenya
In Kenya, mushroom cultivation, in general, has not been embraced by many.
A few who are practicing mushroom farming are either growing button or oyster species, which still poses a challenge during cultivation.
Therefore, only a small number of growers have already embarked in shiitake mushroom farming at the moment. With the high demand for shiitake mushrooms globally, this crop variety remains a good area to venture in to supply not only in the country but also for exports.
Proper information and good farming practices have to be disseminated and adopted for the successful cultivation of mushrooms.
Every mushroom variety has its requirements hence one should always consult and research before cultivation. You will find it easy growing shiitake mushrooms.
