Pleurotus eryngi - this is the scientific name for ceps. In addition, they are often referred to as royal oyster mushrooms, many consider them the most delicious mushrooms of this family. Indeed, there is something to call them royal, because they are characterized by a large fruiting body with a strong aroma and unique taste.
Territory of distribution
Under natural conditions, white steppe mushrooms are found in Europe, in East, North and Central Asia, Africa. Their fruiting bodies grow on the roots or stems of deciduous trees and plants, and can also be found as parasites and saprophytes.
Steppe porcini mushrooms eryngi: features
These mushrooms have a number of outstanding qualities:
- high productivity;
- fruiting bodies of the best quality;
- of Mediterranean origin;
- a hat of gray-brown color, most often pressed in the center with a diameter of 3-12 cm;
- the fruiting body is white, in thickness - from 3 to 5 cm, narrowed to the base;
- old fruiting bodies have a wavy edge of the hat;
- all parts of the fungus are suitable for consumption;
- fruiting is 120-140 g of fruiting bodies per kilogram of fresh substrate.
Mushrooms eringi: characteristic
The appearance and size of fruiting bodies changes under the influence of external conditions, but nevertheless they retain the main characteristic features of their variety. Royal oyster mushroom hats have a color from cream to light brown with a diameter of 3-12 cm. Initially, they are convex, and as they grow older they begin to straighten. Thick leg 3-10 cm long, narrowed to the base. It has a white, delicate but dense structure and is characterized by a strong aroma.
The fruiting bodies of the white steppe mushrooms contain a number of valuable compounds that stimulate the human immune system, and they are also characterized by a high content of antioxidants and polysaccharides of anti-cancer effects. Numerous studies of scientists say that the extract of this fungus has an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect. In addition, it should be noted that eringes are widely used in cooking and are almost a delicacy.
Brief instructions for growing at home
The cubes of the substrate with the mushrooms do not need to be removed from the packaging bag, you only need to partially open it by cutting the upper layer about 2 cm above the cubes (the film will protect them from drying out). Next, you need to put the substrate in a place with the following conditions:
- Daylight or artificial light should be about 500 lux 8-10 hours a day. The cube should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
- High humidity should be kept at 85-90%.
- Provide temperature within 15-20 degrees Celsius.
If you don’t have the opportunity to maintain high humidity in the white steppe mushroom growing room, you can put the substrate, for example, in an empty aquarium, you just need to moisten its walls with a little water and then cover it with a plastic bag (bag). However, it should be borne in mind that once or twice you need to let air into the aquarium. Another method of ensuring high soil moisture is to place a cube with the substrate of the fungus in a thin layer of peat about 3 cm.
Mushrooms should appear on the surface of the substrate within a week after placing the cube in favorable conditions. But the crop can be harvested only when their hat begins to straighten. Fruit bodies from the substrate should be carefully twisted, leaving no traces on it (possible “roots” and dead mushrooms must be removed as soon as possible). Do not allow the mycelium to dry on an open surface during cultivation. If there is a tendency for this, then it is imperative to moisten it, for example, using a sprayer for flowers.