Emma Wilson
Oyster mushrooms are known for their beautiful colours and wide range of fruiting temperatures. They can be grown on logs for personal consumption, with the number of logs depending on the grower's needs. For example, one grower manages 30-40 logs for their home needs, while another grower's extended family manages about 80 logs. The logs should be cut from healthy, living trees during the dormant season and rested for a minimum of 2 weeks before inoculating. The logs should then be soaked and kept in a shady spot outdoors to ensure they don't dry out. With proper care, the logs can produce oyster mushrooms for 2 or more years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of logs | 30-40 for home needs, 80 for extended family |
| Length | 8-11 inches |
| Diameter | 4.5-7 inches |
| Log type | Elm, maple, oak, poplar, birch, pine, eucalyptus |
| Cutting season | Late winter or early spring |
| Inoculation time | Within a few weeks of cutting |
| Fruiting season | Late summer, fall, or spring |
| Fruiting frequency | Every 2-3 months |
| Resting period | 8 weeks |
| Moisture | Regular rainfall, occasional misting, or soaking |
| Sunlight | Full shade or dappled sunlight |
| Position | Upright, horizontal, partially buried, on the ground, or propped up |
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What You'll Learn
Oyster mushroom logs require shade and moisture
It is important to ensure that the logs remain hydrated. Oyster mushroom logs should be soaked at the beginning and end of each season. During times of drought, they may need additional water, which can be provided with a garden hose or by soaking them in a rain barrel, kiddie pool, or natural pond or stream. The logs should be flipped end over end every few weeks to ensure even hydration.
When preparing the logs for inoculation, it is important to protect them from drying out. They should be stored low to the ground, out of the sun and wind, and where they can receive natural rainfall. The logs should be cut from healthy, living trees during the dormant season and allowed to rest for at least two weeks before inoculating. This allows time for the tree's defence system to die back.
Overall, maintaining and managing oyster mushroom logs is a matter of providing shade and moisture to create the ideal environment for the mushrooms to grow and fruit.
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Logs should be cut from healthy trees in winter/spring
Oyster mushrooms are known for their beautiful colours and wide range of fruiting temperatures. They can be grown on logs using plugs. To grow oyster mushrooms, it is important to start with good-quality logs to ensure the best possible mushroom-growing experience.
Logs should be cut from healthy, living trees during the dormant season, which is late winter or early spring. The logs should then be rested for a minimum of 2 weeks before inoculating. This waiting period allows the tree's defence system to die back. It is also important to protect the logs from drying out by storing them in a suitable location. They should be kept low to the ground, out of the soil and leaf layer, away from direct sun and wind, and where they can receive natural rainfall.
It is recommended to use fresh logs to prevent other fungi from colonising them. The logs should be inoculated within 2 to 4 weeks of cutting. If you wait longer, your mycelium will have to compete with other fungi that have already started to grow on the log. Green hardwood can be challenging to drill into, so it is important to use the right tools. An angle grinder adaptor can be useful, especially if you are cutting down multiple trees.
While oyster mushrooms can grow on a variety of trees, some species are more suitable for cultivation. Poplars and other soft hardwoods will be colonised faster and produce mushrooms sooner, but they may not yield as much or produce for as many years. Oaks and hard maples are preferred by most mushroom species because of their density and nutritional content, which support a longer and more sustained fruiting period. However, Italian oyster mushrooms can grow on some pine family trees, although the flushes may be smaller or less frequent than on hardwoods.
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Drill holes, seal with wax, soak, and wait for fruiting
Oyster mushrooms are known for their beautiful colours and wide range of fruiting temperatures. They can be grown on logs using a simple process: Drill holes, seal with wax, soak, and wait for fruiting.
Firstly, select a suitable log. Oyster mushrooms prefer hardwood tree species such as alder, birch, oak, maple, cottonwood, and beech. Cut healthy, living trees during the dormant season and let them rest for a minimum of 2 weeks before inoculating. This allows time for the tree's defence system to die back. Protect the logs from drying out by storing them away from direct sunlight and wind, and where they can receive natural rainfall.
Next, drill holes into the log. Use a drill bit of an appropriate size, typically between 5/16'' and 12mm, and drill to a depth of about 1''. Space the holes about 4 inches apart in rows that are staggered by 2 inches. Create a grid or diamond pattern of holes around the log surface.
Once the holes are drilled, it's time to seal them with wax. Melt the wax in a crockpot or old pot, and use a paintbrush to dab a small amount of melted wax over each hole. This step is critical as it helps maintain moisture and prevents contamination and insect infestation.
Now, you need to soak the logs to ensure they remain adequately hydrated. Situate the logs in a shady area near a water source for easy watering and soaking. Lightly water the stack once a week or so to maintain moisture if it hasn't rained. If the logs appear extremely dry, you may need to soak them overnight, but for no longer than 24 hours, to avoid drowning the mushroom mycelium.
Finally, wait for fruiting. The colonisation phase can take about 6 to 10 months, depending on the wood type, temperatures, and spawn spacing. After this period, start inspecting the log ends weekly for signs of mycelium, such as white streaks, indicating that fruiting is imminent. With proper care, your oyster mushrooms will soon start to appear!
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Logs can be laid flat, upright, or partially buried
Oyster mushrooms are versatile and can be grown on a wide variety of logs, including maple, oak, poplar, elm, birch, and even cardboard. The logs should be cut from healthy, living trees during the dormant season and rested for a minimum of two weeks before inoculating to allow time for the tree's defence system to die back.
When it comes to laying the logs, there are a few options: they can be laid flat, upright, or partially buried. Logs can be placed directly on the ground or propped up on an object, such as a pallet. If you have multiple logs, stacking them together has its benefits. Logs should be kept in a shaded area, out of direct sunlight, and protected from strong winds. They should also be kept moist, but not soaked for extended periods, as this can cause contaminant growth.
Partially burying the logs lengthwise, with about two-thirds of the log above ground, can help retain moisture and prevent bark detachment, which is common with softer hardwoods used for oyster cultivation. Burying the logs upright, with about a third beneath the surface, is another option. This method allows the mushrooms to grow around the entire surface of the log.
If you choose to lay the logs flat, you can elevate them slightly above the ground using scrap wood to allow for airflow. This method can also help protect the logs from dry winter winds. It is important to note that logs should not be laid directly on the soil or leaf litter, as this can lead to contamination.
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Force fruiting can be done every 2-3 months
Oyster mushrooms are a popular choice for growers due to their beautiful colours and wide range of fruiting temperatures. They can be grown outdoors if the temperature remains above 10°C, but it is important to ensure that growing conditions are similar to those indoors, with adequate humidity and ventilation.
When it comes to force fruiting, oyster mushrooms can be forced to fruit every 2-3 months. This process involves creating the ideal conditions for mushroom growth, including temperature, humidity, and ventilation.
To begin force fruiting, the logs should be cut from healthy, living trees during the dormant season and allowed to rest for a minimum of 2 weeks before inoculating. This allows time for the tree's defence system to die back. It is important to protect the logs from drying out by storing them in a cool, shaded area where they can receive natural rainfall.
Once the logs have been inoculated, they typically take 3-12 months to fruit, depending on the strain, outside conditions, and temperature. The ideal temperature for oyster mushroom growth is between 15-25 degrees Celsius, and it is important to maintain stable temperatures to ensure optimal growing conditions. High humidity is also crucial for oyster mushroom growth, with an ideal humidity level of around 90%. This can be achieved through regular misting with a spray bottle or the use of a humidifier.
By providing the necessary conditions and maintenance, growers can successfully force fruit oyster mushrooms every 2-3 months, ensuring a continuous supply of mushrooms for personal consumption or other purposes.
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Frequently asked questions
Cut logs from healthy trees during the dormant season and rest them for a minimum of 2 weeks before inoculating. Protect the logs from drying out and store them out of the sun and wind. Drill holes into the logs, fill them with mushroom spores, and seal the holes with cheese or beeswax. Place the logs in a shady spot and keep them hydrated.
Oyster mushroom logs will fruit multiple times over several years. The number of mushrooms produced depends on the species and the type of tree used for the log. Faster-growing trees like birch and elm will produce mushrooms more quickly but will have shorter lives. Slower-growing trees like oak and maple will produce mushrooms for a longer period.
It can take 18 months or more for oyster mushrooms to fruit on logs for the first time. After the initial fruiting, the logs can be force fruited every 2-3 months by periodically soaking them to trigger fruiting.
