Technique

The basic principle of harvesting is unscrewing the mushrooms out of the casing layer. If the mushroom is simply pulled out, there’ll be too much casing layer and mycelium left on the stipe. Mushrooms are harvested with the left hand. Three mushrooms are usually taken into one hand. Experienced pickers can fit 5 mushrooms into one hand. It’s important not to allow the mushrooms touch each other.

The first mushroom is picked with the tips of the index finger and the thumb. The second one is picked with the tip of the third finger and a side of the thumb, which is completely stretched out. And the third mushroom – with the tip of the little finger and the basis of the thumb. The mushroom stipes should be aligned so that it’s easier to cut them with a knife in the right hand. It’s very important for the knife to be sharp. The mushrooms that are closest to the picker should be harvested in the first place.

In practice, mushrooms in thick «clumps», that have the same basis must be taken apart (thinned out). At that, the harvested mushrooms should be broken off. The remains of the stipes should be removed at harvesting the last mushrooms of the «clump». Harvesting a few mushrooms a day may not be hard, but doing that quickly for 6-8 hours every day, can be rather hard. This requires training and experience. In order to learn the correct way of harvesting mushrooms, one needs great practice and work enthusiastically.

Attention!
Hands and gloves have to be clean. Always wash your hands after going to the toilet.