Michael Davis
Shiitake mushrooms are a fantastic crop to grow in shady areas where nothing else thrives. They are a primary decomposer and have been cultivated for thousands of years. The most efficient method of cultivation is to grow the mushrooms from plug spawn in logs. The logs should be cut from hardwood trees such as oak, beech, maple, birch, or ironwood, and should be 3 to 8 inches in diameter and approximately 4 to 6 inches wide and 3 to 4 feet long. The logs are then inoculated with spawn and sealed with wax before being placed in a well-shaded and open space to fruit. Depending on the temperature and strain, the fruiting period can last from one to two weeks, and the logs can produce flushes of mushrooms every 4 to 5 weeks for up to 6 to 8 years.
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What You'll Learn
- Choosing a substrate: Shiitake mushrooms require a wood-based substrate, such as logs or sawdust blocks
- Selecting the right logs: The ideal logs are 3-8 inches in diameter, made from oak, beech, maple, birch, or ironwood
- Preparing the logs: Logs should be freshly cut, inoculated within a month, and drilled with holes for spawn
- Inoculation process: Fill the holes with pure culture sawdust spawn and seal with wax to preserve moisture and prevent pests
- Fruiting and harvesting: Maintain log moisture at 30-40% and expose more of the log for dry, firm mushrooms. Harvest when young, before the cap opens
Choosing a substrate: Shiitake mushrooms require a wood-based substrate, such as logs or sawdust blocks
Shiitake mushrooms are typically grown on logs or sawdust blocks. Logs are the oldest and simplest method of cultivation. They are also a low-maintenance option, requiring very little upkeep to maintain moisture within the substrate. Once properly set up, shiitake mushroom logs can produce flushes in an optimal environment every 4-5 weeks for up to 6-8 years.
When selecting logs, it is important to consider the type of hardwood trees you have in your forest. White oak trees are ideal, but elm, alder, sweetgum, and maple trees also make good logs. Logs should be 3 to 8 inches in diameter and approximately 4 to 6 inches wide and 3 to 4 feet long. The logs should be freshly cut when no leaves are present and inoculated within a month for the best results.
To inoculate the logs, drill holes along the length of the log every 6 inches in rows spaced 2 inches apart. Fill these holes with pure culture sawdust spawn, which can be acquired from local producers or online spawn producers. Cover the holes with melted beeswax or soy wax to keep out pests and preserve moisture.
If you don't have access to logs, sawdust blocks are another option. Sawdust spawn can be mixed with straw or wood chips to create a supplemented sawdust substrate. This can be started in bags to prevent contamination and maintain the correct level of moisture before transferring to a larger bed. A squeeze test can help determine if the substrate has the correct moisture content—when you slightly squeeze the sawdust, a couple of drops of water should come out.
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Selecting the right logs: The ideal logs are 3-8 inches in diameter, made from oak, beech, maple, birch, or ironwood
Selecting the right log is crucial for successfully cultivating shiitake mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms are quite picky about their growing environment compared to other mushrooms, such as oyster mushrooms, which can thrive on various substrates.
Shiitake mushrooms are primary decomposers that have been cultivated for thousands of years. The traditional and simplest method is to grow them on hardwood logs with a diameter of 3 to 8 inches. This size range is important as it ensures the mushrooms have sufficient space to grow and fruit abundantly.
The ideal logs for shiitake mushrooms are made from specific types of wood, including oak, beech, maple, birch, or ironwood. Among these options, oak and sugar maple are the most preferred as they can fruit for many years. It is worth noting that other species of wood can also be used, but these five types are the most conducive to shiitake mushroom growth and fruiting.
When selecting your logs, it is important to ensure they have ample bark. The amount of bark present directly influences the fruiting potential of the shiitake mushrooms. Logs with insufficient bark may not fruit at all. Therefore, it is advisable to choose logs with a generous amount of bark to maximize the chances of successful mushroom cultivation.
In addition to the type and size of the log, the preparation and inoculation process is key. Freshly cut logs, free of leaves, should be used and inoculated within a month to achieve optimal results. The inoculation process involves drilling holes along the length of the log, every 6 inches, spaced 2 inches apart. These holes are then filled with pure culture sawdust spawn, which can be sourced from a reputable spawn producer. Finally, the holes are covered with wax to protect against pests and maintain moisture levels.
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Preparing the logs: Logs should be freshly cut, inoculated within a month, and drilled with holes for spawn
Preparing the logs is a crucial step in cultivating shiitake mushrooms. Here are the detailed instructions for this process:
Firstly, select the right type of wood for your logs. Shiitake mushrooms grow best on hardwood logs with a diameter of 3 to 8 inches. Oak, beech, maple, birch, or ironwood logs are ideal. If you're sourcing logs from your forest, ensure they are approximately four to six inches wide and three to four feet long. The more bark a log has, the more shiitake mushrooms it will produce. Avoid using coniferous or dogwood trees as they are not suitable for shiitake cultivation.
Once you've selected your logs, cut them freshly when no leaves are present. Leave the freshly cut logs to age for about two weeks. It's important to inoculate the logs within a month of cutting to achieve the best results. The inoculation process involves drilling holes in the logs and filling them with spawn.
Drill shallow holes along the length of the log every 6 inches, spacing the rows 2 inches apart. Another source recommends drilling holes 5 inches apart and 1.5 inches deep, with the next row 5 inches away diagonally, forming a diamond shape. You can use an 8.5-millimeter drill bit for this purpose.
After drilling the holes, fill them with pure culture sawdust spawn. This spawn is a medium that has been inoculated with mycelium, the thread-like mushroom cells that will grow into shiitake mushrooms. You can acquire spawn from local producers or online suppliers.
Finally, seal the holes with wax to keep out pests and preserve moisture. Paraffin or cheese wax is recommended, although beeswax can also be used. However, beeswax may attract unwanted bees to your shiitake log.
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Inoculation process: Fill the holes with pure culture sawdust spawn and seal with wax to preserve moisture and prevent pests
Shiitake mushrooms are typically grown on logs or sawdust blocks. The inoculation period for logs is 6-12 months, whereas sawdust blocks take around 3 months to fully colonize.
To inoculate a log, you'll need to drill shallow holes along the length of the log every 6 inches in rows spaced 2 inches apart. The depth of the holes should be around one inch. You can use a 7/16 drill bit to achieve this. Next, fill these holes with pure culture sawdust spawn, which can be purchased from a trusted local producer or an online source. The spawn should be slightly recessed to ensure good coverage when you seal the holes with wax. You can use melted beeswax or soy wax for this step. Sealing the holes with wax helps to keep pests out and preserve moisture, optimizing the growing conditions for your shiitake mushrooms.
If you're using the sawdust block method, you'll need to mix the sawdust substrate with the spawn in bags. Seal the bags tightly and place them in a dark, warm area with temperatures between 65-77°F (18-25°C). During this incubation period, the spawn will grow through the substrate, feeding on the organic material. Check the bags periodically for signs of contamination, such as mold or bacteria. Once the substrate becomes bumpy and the white mycelium turns brownish with a leathery skin, it's ready for fruiting. Remove the block from the bag and place it in a humid environment with good airflow and temperatures between 50-85°F (10-29°C). Maintain moisture, and within a week, you should see the beginnings of mushroom growth.
Whether you choose to grow shiitake mushrooms using logs or sawdust blocks, the inoculation process is crucial. It sets the foundation for successful fruiting and, ultimately, a bountiful harvest.
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Fruiting and harvesting: Maintain log moisture at 30-40% and expose more of the log for dry, firm mushrooms. Harvest when young, before the cap opens
Fruiting and Harvesting Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms are a great crop to grow in shady places where nothing else grows. They are a little more challenging to grow than oyster mushrooms, as their mycelium is less aggressive and requires a longer incubation time. However, the extra work is worth it, as shiitake mushrooms produce more flushes of fresh mushrooms for you to harvest.
Fruiting
Shiitake logs are ready to fruit when the shiitake has colonized the outer cylinder of available sapwood. This usually takes six to 24 months post-inoculation, when the mycelium has stored enough nutrients to form mushrooms. Temperature and moisture changes trigger the shiitake fungus to produce mushrooms. Therefore, log shocking (or soaking) is often used for "forced fruiting" and is done at a time planned by the grower. After shocking, the logs are stacked for fruiting, normally using the high A-frame or lean-to configuration. The protective covering or fruiting blanket over the logs should be removed, and exposing more of each log will produce dry, firm mushrooms.
Harvesting
Harvest the mushrooms when they are young and before the cap opens. After harvesting, the logs should be placed in a laying or stacking position that works best for your site and rested for one to three months. Log moisture content should be maintained from 30–40% to promote mycelial growth while inhibiting pinning. Warm temperatures (60–77 °F) speed recovery of the logs, after which they can be soaked (forced) for another flush (crop) of mushrooms.
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Frequently asked questions
The natural cultivation of shiitake mushrooms on hardwood logs is the oldest and simplest method. Shiitake grows best on 3- to 8-inch-diameter oak, beech, maple, birch or ironwood logs. The logs should be freshly cut when no leaves are present and inoculated within a month for the best results.
To inoculate, drill holes along the length of the log every 6 inches in rows spaced 2 inches apart. Then fill these holes with pure culture sawdust spawn, which can be acquired from a local spawn producer. Cover the holes with melted beeswax or soy wax to keep out pests and preserve moisture.
The inoculation period for mushroom logs is 6-12 months. After this period, the mycelium will have stored enough nutrients to form mushrooms. The fruiting period usually lasts from one to two weeks.
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