CULTIVATION TIPS JOHN PEETERS Filling when it freezes
Now winter has - almost- arrived, filling the growing rooms in low temperatures starts to become a challenge. When I was young and worked at my parent’s mushroom farm, I remember we were filling a room with phase I compost, which actually produces quite some heat, when it was about 10 degrees below zero. The machine had jammed due to frozen condensation, and my uncle, co-owner of the farm, came up with the brilliant idea of getting a bucket of hot water and throwing it over the tyres. It had the intended result..... ... for about 10 minutes, until everything froze up again. In temperatures well below freezing, it is important to avoid the machine coming into contact with water. So don’t spray it clean and leave it outside, and certainly do not rinse it before filling begins. Farms in regions of the world where winters can still
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be harsh usually have a kind of shed to store the filling machine where the temperature can be kept above zero. This stops the machine from seizing up, and the machine, which can’t be rinsed off before use, can be used. After filling, the machine is cleaned without water using brooms and brushes. The filling machine can be cleaned indoors if the temperature there is above zero, but ensure it is properly dried before moving the machine outdoors again. Any spores of pathogens, which can sometimes survive the cold, will be sprayed off. If no indoor storage is possible for machines, it is important to clean everything as well as possible and as dry as possible. Compost and casing soil residues must be carefully removed before they freeze and cause a problem next time the machine is used. Growers must always remain alert to the development of any diseases caused because the machine has not been cleaned. Spores can often survive more than we think. Pay particular attention to the casing. If casing is delivered fresh, it can be filled immediately from the walking floor trailer or shredder, preferably without any interruption. Casing delivered in bulk must also be applied as soon as possible to prevent freezing. Remember that about 80% of casing soil is water. If the casing is supplied in big bags, it is extremely important to store it indoors, away from the influence of icy cold winds and where the temperature is at least just above freezing point. Filling machines were not designed to cope with blocks of ice. Make sure you are prepared for the winter weather, which can arrive without warning!
www.hartepeat.com
Leonard's Island, Clones, Co. Monaghan, Rep of Ireland, Tel: +353 47 51557 Fax: +353 47 51827 Email:
info@hartepeat.com
By John Peeters
40 MUSHROOM BUSINESS
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