Because the stages pass so quickly, DMR asks growers to harvest two or three times a day: morning, noon and afternoon. Twist each egg out gently, holding the base, without pulling up the pins next to it. The first flush lasts about 3 days and gives 70 to 90 percent of the crop. A second flush follows about a week later and adds only 10 to 30 percent; the bed method continues for about 20 days in all.
After the second flush the bed is spent. Dry the used straw and compost it away from the shed. DMR cites Chinese practice of reusing it for oyster mushroom, but that is not an Indian recommendation.