Crop Advisory
Monthly mushroom cultivation guidance from ICAR–Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan
Kisan Call Centre / किसान कॉल सेंटर
भारत सरकार द्वारा किसान भाइयों के लिए राष्ट्रीय हेल्पलाइन नंबर जारी किया गया है। इस टोल-फ्री नंबर पर देश के किसी भी हिस्से से फसल एवं कृषि संबंधी जानकारी प्राप्त की जा सकती है।
The Government of India provides this toll-free helpline for farmers seeking crop and agriculture-related information.
Important: Crop conditions vary by location, species and growing system. Confirm recommendations with ICAR-DMR or your local agricultural expert. For pesticides, disinfectants and other chemicals, use only products registered for the intended crop and purpose, and follow current label directions, protective measures and applicable regulations.
Crop Advisory — October 2026
5 advisories- Check compost quality parameters, including pH, moisture and ammonia. If they are within permissible limits, spawn the compost for button mushroom.
- Maintain 22–25°C temperature and 80–85% relative humidity in cropping rooms during button mushroom spawn run.
- Keep doors and windows closed during spawn run to maintain CO₂ levels of 5,000–10,000 ppm, as advised in the source calendar.
- Apply pasteurized casing soil to the beds and maintain 22–25°C and 80–85% relative humidity for the next 7–8 days.
- If rooms are available, one crop of oyster mushroom can also be taken.
Crop Advisory — September 2026
7 advisories- Reduce water spraying on oyster and milky mushroom beds and improve ventilation because atmospheric humidity is high.
- Maintain 25–30°C in oyster mushroom cropping rooms.
- The source advisory recommends weekly application of Malathion 0.01% and Chlorothalonil 0.05% on walls, floors and galleries for insect and mould management. Use only products registered for the intended use and follow the product label and local expert guidance.
- If additional huts or rooms are available, prepare for another oyster mushroom crop.
- Construct huts for white button mushroom cultivation.
- Collect compost raw materials and begin wetting in the last week of September.
- Book spawn for the white button mushroom crop.
Crop Advisory — August 2026
6 advisories- Reduce water spraying on oyster and milky mushroom beds when atmospheric humidity is high; provide sufficient aeration for oyster mushrooms.
- Reduce temperature in the oyster mushroom hut if it exceeds 30°C.
- Install UV fly catchers about 5 ft above the floor for mushroom-fly management, following equipment safety instructions.
- The source advisory recommends Malathion 0.01% on mushroom-house walls and Chlorothalonil 0.05% in and around the mushroom house weekly. Use only products registered for the intended use and follow the label and local expert guidance.
- If additional huts or rooms are available, prepare for another oyster or milky mushroom crop.
- Maintain hygiene around the growing area. After a crop ends, clean racks and rooms and follow approved sanitation procedures; use formaldehyde/formalin only where legally permitted and according to official safety guidance.
Crop Advisory — July 2026
5 advisories- Prepare rooms or huts for oyster and milky mushroom cultivation. High-temperature-tolerant oyster species and milky mushroom may be cultivated.
- Maintain 30–35°C for milky mushroom and 25–30°C for oyster mushroom, with 85–90% relative humidity in the cropping room.
- Prepare casing soil for milky mushroom. If spawn run is complete, apply casing to the bags.
- For Pleurotus ostreatus, punch uniform holes of about 2 mm around spawn-run bags; for Pleurotus sajor-caju, remove bags as appropriate and begin ventilation for fruiting. Maintain 25–30°C and 85–90% relative humidity.
- This is a suitable season for paddy straw mushroom cultivation. Aim for 30–35°C and 85–90% relative humidity during bed preparation, spawning, spawn run and fruiting.
Crop Advisory — June 2026
6 advisories- Maintain room temperature according to the requirements of the oyster mushroom species being grown.
- Harvest mushrooms before spraying water and introduce fresh air for about one hour after water spraying.
- The source advisory recommends Chlorothalonil 0.05% and Deltamethrin 0.01% on walls and floors for management of competitors and flies. Use only registered products as directed on the label and seek local expert advice.
- When a crop ends, clean the rooms and follow approved sanitation procedures before introducing the next crop.
- For milky mushroom, maintain bed temperature at 30–35°C during spawn run and 28–32°C during cropping.
- In coastal regions, paddy straw mushroom can be cultivated; monitor bed temperature and keep it below 36°C.
Crop Advisory — May 2026
7 advisories- If growing oyster mushroom, maintain 22–25°C and 85–90% relative humidity in the growing rooms.
- Maintain farm hygiene and sanitation to reduce pest and disease problems.
- When an oyster crop ends, clean the rooms and follow approved sanitation procedures before starting the next crop. Milky mushroom can be cultivated in suitable rooms.
- For milky mushroom spawn run, aim for an air temperature of 25–30°C.
- Apply casing to milky mushroom bags when spawn run is complete.
- Spray water judiciously on floors, walls and beds to maintain 85–90% relative humidity and prevent milky mushroom pinheads from drying.
- In coastal regions, a second paddy straw mushroom crop may be initiated.
Crop Advisory — April 2026
7 advisories- Maintain 85–90% relative humidity in oyster mushroom growing rooms.
- Harvest before water spraying. Ventilate after spraying to reduce the risk of bacterial blotch.
- Maintain room temperature according to the oyster mushroom species.
- The source advisory recommends Chlorothalonil 0.05% and Deltamethrin 0.01% for managing competitors and flies, respectively. Use only registered products according to label directions and local expert advice.
- When an oyster crop ends, clean the rooms and follow approved sanitation procedures before starting the next crop; milky mushroom may then be cultivated.
- For milky mushroom spawn run, maintain 30–35°C.
- In coastal regions, this is a suitable time to cultivate paddy straw mushroom.
Crop Advisory — March 2026
6 advisories- For button mushroom in seasonal farms, maintain air temperature up to 18°C and 85–90% relative humidity during production.
- If a crop has been infected by wet bubble, yellow mould or other competitors, handle and dispose of spent compost according to local plant-health and waste-management guidance.
- Clean floors and racks with soapy water before the next crop.
- Prepare for oyster mushroom cultivation using standard procedures; keep bags at about 25 ± 2°C during spawn run.
- After 15–20 days of spawn run, open the bags as appropriate. Maintain 22–28°C and 85–90% relative humidity for fruiting, depending on the species.
- Maintain proper hygiene and sanitation around the farm.
Crop Advisory — February 2026
8 advisories- After mid-February, temperatures may rise above 18°C. During button mushroom fruiting, use appropriate room-management practices to keep temperature below 18°C.
- Maintain CO₂ below 1,000 ppm inside button mushroom cropping rooms during fruiting.
- Maintain hygienic conditions in and around the growing rooms.
- Collect wet-bubble-infected mushrooms early and dispose of them safely according to local plant-health guidance.
- If flies or mites occur, seek advice from an agricultural expert and use only registered control products according to label directions.
- Use physical controls such as yellow light traps or fly catchers when flies are present.
- Book oyster mushroom spawn.
- After the crop ends, remove used compost bags promptly and handle any infected material safely.
Crop Advisory — January 2026
5 advisories- Maintain 16–18°C during button mushroom fruiting.
- Provide ventilation to maintain 800–1,200 ppm CO₂ during fruiting and pinhead formation; maintain 80–85% relative humidity for quality button mushrooms.
- Maintain hygiene in and around growing rooms. If mould appears, identify it and seek local expert advice on suitable control measures.
- If flies are visible, use appropriate monitoring and control measures recommended by an agricultural expert.
- Collect wet-bubble-infected mushrooms early and dispose of them safely according to local plant-health guidance.
Crop Advisory — December 2025
5 advisories- The source advisory lists thiophanate-methyl and formalin for oyster mushroom substrate treatment. Verify current registration, permitted use, label directions and safety requirements before using any chemical.
- If flies are present, use integrated pest-management measures and only registered products according to label directions.
- Maintain 16–18°C during button mushroom fruiting and 23–24°C during spawn run, with 80–85% relative humidity in growing rooms.
- Ventilate cropping rooms to maintain 1,000–1,500 ppm CO₂ during fruiting and pinhead formation.
- Maintain hygienic conditions in and around growing rooms.
Crop Advisory — November 2025
5 advisories- Before spawning, analyse compost samples for moisture, pH and any residual ammonia.
- Maintain suitable temperature, humidity and CO₂ levels in button mushroom growing rooms.
- Provide adequate ventilation during fruiting initiation and cropping.
- Maintain hygienic conditions in and around mushroom growing rooms.
- If additional space is available, an oyster mushroom crop may be taken.
Crop advisory content is provided for general agricultural guidance. Confirm current recommendations and product approvals with qualified agricultural personnel before taking action.