Emma Wilson
Growing shiitake mushrooms on logs is a sustainable and cost-effective way of cultivating mushrooms. It is also a fun project to do with friends and family. When selecting logs to grow shiitake mushrooms, it is important to consider the type of wood, the size of the log, and the moisture content. Logs should be cut from live, healthy trees with thick bark to prevent moisture loss and should be inoculated within a few weeks of cutting. On average, a mushroom log will produce for one year per inch of diameter, so a 5-inch diameter log will likely produce mushrooms for 5 years. After inoculation, logs should be stacked in a humid, airy location and watered regularly to maintain a moisture content above 30%.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diameter | On average, a mushroom log will produce for 1 year per inch of diameter of the log. For example, a 5-inch diameter oak log with shiitake sawdust spawn will likely produce for 5 years. |
| Length | N/A |
| Weight | N/A |
| Wood Type | Thin-barked, low-density hardwood tree species provide quick fruitings of mushrooms but only for a short period of time. Thick-barked options include oak. Locust, poplar, red maple, ash, walnut, fruit wood, and all conifers are not suitable for shiitake cultivation. |
| Moisture Content | Log moisture content should be maintained above 30% to ensure speedy, vigorous, and uniform colonization. If moisture drops below 25%, mycelial death may occur. |
| Sunlight Exposure | Logs should be located under forest shade or approved shade cloth. |
| Temperature | Shiitake comes in three strain types with the following temperature ranges: Cold (33-50°F), Wide Range (50-75°F), and Warm/Hot (75-100°F). |
| Spawn Type | Use sawdust, plug, or thimble spawn. Avoid grain spawn, which is intended for indoor cultivation on sterilized bulk substrates. |
| Spawn Timing | Logs should be inoculated within a few weeks of cutting. |
| Yield | Good quality logs can fruit for up to 8 years. |
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What You'll Learn
Log size and mushroom yield
The size of the log will determine the yield and longevity of your shiitake mushrooms. On average, a mushroom log will produce for 1 year per inch of diameter. For example, a 5-inch diameter oak log will likely produce mushrooms for 5 years. Logs should be inoculated within a few weeks of cutting.
It's important to use good-quality logs to ensure the best possible shiitake-growing experience. Logs used for shiitake production must be cut from live, healthy trees or from recently harvested healthy trees. Living trees with obvious insect or disease damage should not be used. Thin-barked, low-density hardwood tree species provide quick fruitings of mushrooms but only for a short period of time. Locust, poplar, red maple (except with warm-weather strains), ash, walnut, fruit wood, and all conifers are not suitable for shiitake cultivation.
To maximise yield and longevity, you can time the harvest with sap flow. Healthy, living trees can be felled for mushroom bolts nearly any time of the year. However, trees felled during the summer and fall months produce less dry weight of mushrooms at harvest compared to other times of the year. Logs should not be used for shiitake production if they were cut from trees that seasoned during the summer months.
After inoculation, the spawn run begins. A one-time inoculation will produce mushrooms after six months to two years and will continue to produce for three to four years, depending on the strains used and the conditions for the spawn run. To ensure speedy, vigorous, and uniform colonisation, the log moisture content should be maintained above at least 30%. Logs should be watered twice a day and protected from abrupt or severe drying, which causes shrinkage, cracking, or lengthwise cracks.
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Selecting the right wood
Wood Source and Type
Shiitake mushrooms grow best on thin-barked, low-density hardwood tree species. These trees provide relatively quick fruitings of mushrooms but only for a short period of time. Examples of suitable hardwoods include oak, beech, and elm. It's important to avoid locust, poplar, red maple (except with warm-weather strains), ash, walnut, fruit wood, and all conifers, as these are not suitable for shiitake cultivation. The logs should be sourced from healthy, living trees or recently harvested healthy trees. Do not use trees with insect or disease damage.
Timing of Harvest
While healthy trees can be felled for mushroom bolts almost any time of year, it is important to time the harvest with sap flow to maximize yield and longevity. Avoid using logs that were cut from trees that seasoned during the summer months, as they are less productive and can affect mushroom growth.
Log Size and Moisture
The size of the log will impact the duration of mushroom production. On average, a mushroom log will produce for one year per inch of diameter. For example, a 5-inch diameter log will likely produce mushrooms for five years. It is important to inoculate the logs within a few weeks of cutting. Additionally, proper moisture management is crucial. Thin-barked logs tend to lose moisture quickly, so it's important to seal wounds with wax after inoculation to retain moisture. The log's moisture content should be maintained above 30% to ensure healthy mushroom growth.
Stacking and Location
When creating a laying yard, consider using a base such as gravel, a tarp, or timber to prevent the log ends from touching the ground. The logs can be stacked in an airy location with consistent humidity and ample rainfall. Solar gain is also a factor to consider. Logs should be kept under forest shade or approved shade cloth to regulate sunlight exposure. The stack orientation can be adjusted to benefit from site-specific conditions, such as wind direction or air currents.
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Log inoculation
Selecting Logs
Logs used for shiitake production must be cut from live, healthy trees or from recently harvested healthy trees. Living trees with obvious insect or disease damage should not be used. Thin-barked, low-density hardwood tree species provide relatively quick fruitings of mushrooms but only for a short period of time. Locust, poplar, red maple (except with warm-weather strains), ash, walnut, fruit wood, and all conifers are not suitable for shiitake cultivation. Small branches should be removed from the logs, leaving a stump of approximately two inches.
Preparing Logs
Before inoculation, use a wire brush to remove lichens and moss from the bark. For thin-barked trees, be careful not to damage the bark. After inoculation, coat wounds (except the log ends) in wax to seal in moisture.
Spawn Types
Spawn are actively growing mycelia that retain the genetics of the contributing fungus and are intended as inoculum for mushroom cultivation. For log production, use sawdust, plug, or thimble spawn. Avoid grain spawn, which is intended for indoor cultivation on sterilized bulk substrates.
Moisture Management
The shiitake grower’s objective is to maintain log moisture content above at least 30% to ensure speedy, vigorous, and uniform colonization. If moisture drops below 25%, mycelial death may occur. Logs should be adequately protected from abrupt or severe drying, which causes shrinkage, cracking, or lengthwise cracks on log surfaces. Logs should be watered occasionally, every week if it doesn't rain. After soaking, lean logs up against trees or cross-stack them in a log cabin pattern and the mushrooms should emerge in a few days. Make sure to keep these logs watered twice a day!
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Maintaining log moisture
Maintaining the correct moisture level in logs is critical to successfully growing shiitake mushrooms. The logs should be inoculated within a few weeks of being cut, with small branches removed, leaving a stump of approximately two inches. After inoculation, it is important to coat the log's wounds (excluding the ends) with wax to seal in moisture.
The shiitake grower's goal is to maintain a log moisture content of at least 30% to ensure rapid, vigorous, and uniform colonisation. If the moisture level drops below 25%, mycelial death may occur. Therefore, it is important to water the logs at least twice a day after soaking and leaning them against trees or stacking them in a log cabin pattern. This should be done weekly if there is no rain.
To prevent abrupt or severe drying, which causes shrinkage, cracking, or lengthwise cracks on the log surfaces, logs should be adequately protected. A base layer of gravel, a tarp, timber, or similar material can be used to prevent the log ends from touching the ground.
The location of the logs also plays a role in moisture retention. Cribbing, a technique used in shiitake production in the Northeastern United States, is best suited to airy locations in consistently humid climates with ample and regular rainfall. Solar gain is highest in full sunlight, so logs should be kept in the shade, either under a forest canopy or an approved shade cloth.
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Fruiting and harvesting
After inoculating your logs, you will need to wait at least six months to two years for the mushrooms to fruit, depending on the spawn used and the conditions for the spawn run. The logs should be soaked, and then leaned up against trees or cross-stacked in a log cabin pattern. Make sure to keep the logs watered twice a day if there is no rain. The mushrooms should emerge in a few days.
Shiitake mushrooms grown on logs can be highly productive, with good quality logs fruiting for up to eight years. On average, a mushroom log will produce for one year per inch of diameter, so a 5-inch diameter log will likely produce for five years. Logs should be inoculated within a few weeks of cutting.
To maintain log moisture content above at least 30%, water the logs weekly if it doesn't rain. Logs should be protected from abrupt or severe drying, which causes shrinkage, cracking, or lengthwise cracks. Solar gain is greatest in full sunlight, so logs should be located under forest shade or approved shade cloth.
When harvesting shiitake mushrooms, wait until the caps flatten, which indicates that they are mature. At this point, they can be twisted off and harvested.
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Frequently asked questions
On average, a mushroom log will produce for 1 year per inch of diameter. For example, a 5-inch diameter log will likely produce mushrooms for 5 years.
Thin-barked, low-density hardwood tree species provide quick fruitings of mushrooms but only for a short period. Locust, poplar, red maple, ash, walnut, fruit wood, and all conifers are not suitable for shiitake cultivation. Logs should be cut from live, healthy trees or recently harvested healthy trees.
Logs should be inoculated within a few weeks of cutting. Small branches should be removed, leaving a stump of around 2 inches. Coat wounds in wax after inoculation to seal in moisture. The log ends should not be waxed.
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