Emily Johnson
Oyster mushroom logs are a great addition to any garden, but they require a shaded area or a space that receives only dappled sunlight. The fruiting process depends on the environment and the season. Generally, late spring through fall is the best time of year for fruiting mushroom logs outdoors, as mushrooms need cool weather and moisture to fruit. Oyster mushrooms can be forced to fruit by soaking the logs in water every two months. However, this depends on the strain of the mushrooms. For example, cold blue oyster mushrooms need cold weather to fruit. The initial fruiting can occur as quickly as six months, while others can take over a year. A medium-sized log can fruit for five or more years if properly cared for.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency of fruiting | 2-4 times a year |
| First fruiting | 6 months to 1 year after inoculation |
| Fruiting time | Late summer/fall or spring |
| Environment | Outdoors in a shaded area or an area with dappled sunlight |
| Temperature | Cool weather |
| Moisture | Logs should be soaked at the beginning and end of each season |
| Rest period | 1 month after harvest |
| Diameter of the log | Smaller diameter logs fruit sooner |
| Type of wood | Soft hardwoods fruit sooner but for fewer years |
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What You'll Learn
- Oyster mushroom logs should be soaked in water to promote fruiting
- The best time to harvest oyster mushrooms is when they are young
- Bugs are a common issue when growing oyster mushrooms outdoors
- The best time to cut logs is late winter, when moisture and sugars are at their highest
- Oyster mushrooms can be grown outdoors using the straw log method
Oyster mushroom logs should be soaked in water to promote fruiting
To begin the fruiting process, the logs should be soaked in non-chlorinated water for 24 hours. This simulates a heavy rainfall, which triggers mushroom production. If the log floats, place an object on top to keep it fully submerged. After soaking, the logs should be placed in a shady spot, misted or watered once or twice a day, and kept at a temperature between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The mycelium will take 6-12 months from the inoculation date to fully colonize the log and start fruiting. To initiate fruiting, the logs can be shocked by knocking one end sharply on the ground. Pins (the primordial stage of the mushrooms) should start to appear between 4 and 10 days after soaking. The mushrooms will be ready to harvest within 5 to 10 days after the pins pop out of the log. It is best to harvest when the gills are exposed and the caps are still concave.
After harvesting, the logs should be allowed to rest for 8 to 12 weeks before the process is repeated. This resting period allows the mycelium to extract more nutrients from the log for the next fruiting cycle. Soaking the logs in water for about 6 hours can force fruit the logs, resulting in more fruiting cycles, but this will shorten the lifespan of the log.
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The best time to harvest oyster mushrooms is when they are young
Oyster mushrooms are a fun and rewarding crop to grow, and with the right care, your log can fruit for several years. The best time to harvest oyster mushrooms is when they are young, but how do you know when that is?
Firstly, it is important to understand the growth cycle of your oyster mushroom log. The mycelium (mushroom spawn growth) typically takes 6-12 months from inoculation before it starts fruiting. However, this timeframe can vary depending on the type of wood you use. Smaller diameter logs and soft hardwoods will usually fruit sooner, although they may not last as long. On the other hand, dense hardwoods take longer to colonize but will continue to fruit for more years.
The fruiting process is also dependent on your environment and the season. Generally, oyster mushrooms prefer cool and moist conditions to fruit. In fact, growth may slow down during the hot summer months. Late spring through fall tends to be the best time of year for fruiting mushroom logs outdoors, with the first flush of mushrooms appearing in the fall. If you inoculate your log in the spring, you may see mushrooms by the fall, but it could also take a full year. If you inoculate in the fall and can keep the mycelium from going dormant, you may see mushrooms as early as the following spring, but more likely the next fall.
To speed up the fruiting process, you can try the pillar method, which involves stacking smaller sections of logs with sawdust spawn in between. Oyster mushrooms naturally fruit when temperatures shift in the spring and fall, so this method can be quite successful. Additionally, you can try force fruiting by periodically soaking the logs in water to trigger fruiting. However, this technique may not work for all strains, especially cold blue oyster mushrooms, which need cold weather to fruit.
Once you see the first young mushrooms, you can begin harvesting! Remember to let your log rest for about a month after each harvest to store up nutrients for future crops. With proper care, your oyster mushroom log can provide a significant yield for many years to come.
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Bugs are a common issue when growing oyster mushrooms outdoors
To prevent bugs from ruining your crop, you can use a screen or netting to cover the mushrooms. However, this may not be entirely effective, and bugs may still be able to get through. Timing is also important; the time of year can affect how likely bugs are to infest your mushrooms.
Another way to avoid bugs is to harvest your mushrooms early, before the bugs have a chance to take over. Oyster mushrooms grown outdoors should be harvested when the edges of the caps begin to fold or curl upward. This is usually within a week or two of the buds appearing. Harvesting mushrooms when they are young provides a longer shelf life and reduces spore production.
If you are growing oyster mushrooms outdoors, it is important to be aware of the ideal growing conditions to ensure a successful harvest. Oyster mushrooms thrive in a dark, moist environment with temperatures between 10-20°C. They grow on various substrates, such as straw, coffee grounds, and sawdust. Providing the right conditions will help to prevent bugs from infesting your crop.
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The best time to cut logs is late winter, when moisture and sugars are at their highest
Oyster mushrooms are popular for their wide range of fruiting temperatures and beautiful colours. Growing oyster mushrooms outdoors is easy and stress-free, but it comes with the downside of bugs. Bugs and beetles will eat the mushrooms and lay eggs that turn into larvae. Therefore, it is important to pay close attention to your outdoor grow and harvest the mushrooms as soon as they are ready.
After inoculation, logs are relatively low maintenance, and you can grow several types of mushrooms in the same space. Depending on your environment, you might be able to fruit the logs 2–4 times a year, but it is recommended to let the logs rest for about a month after harvesting. Logs should be soaked in water to promote fruiting, simulating heavy rainfall, which triggers mushroom production. Once the proper moisture and temperature are provided, you're on your way to producing mushrooms.
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Oyster mushrooms can be grown outdoors using the straw log method
Firstly, choose a mushroom species that grows well on straw, such as Blue Oyster, Yellow Oyster, Pink Oyster, or King Oyster. Blue Oyster mushrooms, for example, are well-suited to outdoor grows as they require a lot of fresh air to develop large caps. They also prefer cooler weather, so are suited to more temperate climates.
Next, you will need to prepare the straw. The straw should be cleaned, chopped, and pasteurized. To pasteurize the straw, chop it and soak it in water heated to between 65-82 °C for 1-2 hours. Drain the straw, allow it to cool, and then mix in mushroom grain spawn. A spawn ratio of at least 10% is recommended.
Once the straw is prepared, stuff the straw/spawn mixture into a fruiting container. Poly tubing with holes cut into the bag can be used, or a 5-gallon bucket with holes drilled into the sides. Leave the mixture to colonize at room temperature for 7-14 days.
After the colonization period, move the container to a fruiting chamber or another appropriate environment. The ideal environmental conditions will depend on the specific mushroom species. However, generally, mushrooms require sufficient moisture to produce mushrooms, so the logs should be misted or watered 1-2 times daily.
Finally, harvest the mushrooms when they are young to increase their shelf life and reduce spore production. After harvesting, lay the logs back in incubation piles to store up more nutrients for future crops. Depending on your environment, you may be able to fruit the logs 2-4 times a year, but it is recommended to let the logs rest for about a month after harvesting.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes approximately 9-12 months for the fungus to colonize the logs, and the mushrooms will begin to fruit after that.
Oyster mushroom logs can fruit 2-4 times a year, but it is recommended to let the logs rest for about a month after each harvest.
Late spring through fall is the best time of year for fruiting oyster mushroom logs outdoors. Spring through early summer is also mentioned as a good time to inoculate the logs.
