CULTIVATIONTIPS MUSHROOM SIGNALS Summer is coming!


We have only just said goodbye to winter, but we can start preparing to deal with warmer temperatures and save on energy costs right now!


It is a good idea to check the cooling coils first to see if they are still clean. After many years of use, soiling can build up that can partially block the coil. This increases the speed of air through the coil and reduces the effectiveness of cooling.


Another point is wetting the floor. This has advantages in winter but in summer too. Wetting the floor every 4 to 6 hours (the floor should be almost dry again after this time) introduces an extra form of cooling in the growing room. Compare it to getting out of a swimming pool; you’re wet but despite it being 25°Celsius you feel cold. Water evapo- rates and uses energy. This energy is taken from the heat in the growing room, which cools the air in the room. A welcome side effect is, that it automatically humidifies the room at the same time! An important detail is to make sure the floor is 99% wet (see photo top of page). Any floor surface that is not wet will not provide cooling. And it’s best to wet the floor with a jet of water. Preferably don’t use nozzles, as this creates fine droplets. These fine droplets float in the air and during reco- very growth of the mycelium and cool down they can cause misshapen mushrooms. The floor is often wet by hand using a hose, but that takes time and is often omitted at night. A hose with perforations, a magnetic switch and a timer (photo left) can cut your energy costs significantly.


By Mark den Ouden, Mushroom Signals mark.den.ouden@mushroomoffice.com


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62 MUSHROOM BUSINESS


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