Emma Wilson
Mushroom logs require different amounts of water at different stages of growth. The best time to cut logs is late winter or early spring when the trees are completely dormant. Logs should be inoculated within two months of being cut, but the sooner the better. After inoculation, logs should be kept moist. Misting them regularly can help maintain moisture levels. Forcing logs to fruit by soaking them in water for 24 hours can reduce their production life. Soaking times vary depending on the air and water temperatures, the log's age, and the thickness of its bark. Logs can also be soaked for one to two days in chlorine-free water after a year to induce a flush of mushrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Log selection | Logs must be cut from healthy living trees with undamaged bark. |
| Time of cutting | Winter to early spring when the trees are completely dormant. |
| Plugging | Takes place 0-2 months after the tree is felled. |
| Suitable wood species | White Oak, Red Oak, Sweetgum, Ironwood, Maple, Tulip Poplar, River Birch, Cherry, Black Gum, and Honey Locust. |
| Moisture content before inoculation | Logs should be moist but not overly dry. |
| Moisture content after inoculation | Keep the logs moist. Use a mister in dry areas. |
| Soaking | Logs are soaked for 24-48 hours before inoculation to rehydrate them. |
| Fruiting | Logs are ready to fruit when the shiitake has colonized the outer cylinder of available sapwood. |
| Forced fruiting | Soaking logs for 6-24 hours in summer and 2-3 days in spring or fall triggers fruiting. |
| Pinning | Occurs 3-5 days after shocking or 1 week naturally. Requires a log moisture content of 35-60%. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Fresh logs vs old logs
Fresh logs are generally preferred for mushroom cultivation. The best logs for mushroom plugs are usually species-specific. Hardwoods are ideal for most edible mushrooms, and trees should be healthy and free from disease or insect problems. The dormant season is the best time to cut logs, and they should be inoculated within one or two weeks of cutting. This allows the cells in the tree to die, but is not long enough for the log to dry out or for other fungi to become established.
Freshly cut logs will retain enough residual moisture to keep the fungi happy and start a fungal network within the wood. However, if the logs are old and dried out, other fungi may have already colonized them through cracks in the wood. Soaking old logs to rehydrate them may correct the condition, but it could also feed a fungal colony not of your choosing. Therefore, it is generally recommended to avoid using old logs for mushroom cultivation.
If you are using freshly cut logs, you do not need to soak them. However, it is important to maintain their moisture content. This can be done by covering them with snow or storing them in a greenhouse, shed, or similar structure until you are ready to inoculate them. After inoculation, logs should be kept moist, but they do not need to be soaked. A mister that comes on regularly with a timer can be used to maintain consistent moisture levels.
Stumps can also be used for mushroom cultivation, but they take longer than logs to colonize. Similar to logs, stumps should be freshly cut and located in a shady environment. The bark should be removed, and holes should be drilled into the stump for the plug spawn or sawdust spawn. The holes are then plugged or filled with sawdust spawn, and the stump is brushed with melted wax.
Cauliflower Mushroom: Preserving the Delicate Harvest
You may want to see also
Misting vs soaking
When it comes to growing mushrooms, misting and soaking the logs are two important techniques to ensure proper hydration for mushroom growth. Here is a detailed guide on misting vs. soaking:
Misting:
- Misting is a common practice for maintaining moisture levels in mushroom logs, especially in dry areas.
- It is recommended to mist the logs regularly, several times a day, to keep the moisture levels consistent. This can be done using a mister with a timer.
- Misting is crucial during the initial stages of growing mushrooms. If you start with fresh logs and plugs, misting helps keep the logs moist after inoculation and sealing.
- When mushrooms start popping out of the logs, it is essential to mist them frequently to prevent them from drying out. Baby mushrooms are susceptible to drying out and may stop growing if they don't receive enough moisture.
- If your logs are stacked in a location where they receive partial sun exposure, misting can help prevent excessive drying.
Soaking:
- Soaking is typically done at specific stages of mushroom growth and is less frequent than misting.
- Before inoculation, if the logs are old and dried out with cracks, soaking them for 24-48 hours can help rehydrate the wood. This step is crucial for the overall health of the wood.
- After a year of maintaining consistent moisture levels through misting, soaking the logs for a day or two in chlorine-free water can induce a flush of mushrooms. This technique is known as "force fruiting."
- Soaking is also recommended if it hasn't rained in two weeks. Soak the logs in tap water for 3-6 hours, or chlorine-free water if available.
- It is important not to soak the logs for longer than 24 hours, as it can cause the mycelium to drown, and the logs may never fruit again.
In summary, misting is a regular practice to maintain moisture levels in mushroom logs, while soaking is done at specific stages of growth, such as rehydrating old logs, inducing fruiting, and compensating for dry weather conditions. Both techniques are essential for successful mushroom cultivation.
Mushroom's Complex World: Exploring 36,000 Genders
You may want to see also
Log shocking
How Often to Water Mushroom Logs
Before inoculation, check the moisture content of the logs. If the log is light in weight compared to others of a similar size, it may be overly dry. Check the ends of the logs, and if they are cracked, soak the logs for 24-48 hours before inoculation to rehydrate them.
After inoculation, mist the logs regularly to maintain consistent moisture levels. Avoid soaking the logs unless you are attempting to get a flush of mushrooms. In that case, submerge the logs in chlorine-free water for one to two days before returning them to a shaded area.
To shock a log, knock one end of the log sharply on the ground, then submerge it overnight in cool, non-chlorinated water. You can use a bathtub, large trash can, or bucket, as long as the log is completely covered. After shocking, give the logs a few weeks' break before shocking them again.
Shocking your logs can force more flushes from them and lead to the appearance of pins within four to ten days. The timeframe depends on your unique environment, including location, rainfall, and time of year.
It's important to allow logs to rest after each fruiting period for eight to twelve weeks. During this time, the mycelium will extract more nutrients from the log to support further mushroom growth. After the resting period, you can repeat the soaking and shocking steps to force fruit the log again.
Shiitake Mushrooms: Picking the Best for Your Plate
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Optimum moisture content
The moisture content of mushroom logs is critical to the success of mushroom production. Optimum moisture content depends on the stage of mushroom growth.
Before inoculation, the logs should be checked for moisture content. If the log is light in weight compared to others of a similar size, it may be overly dry, and its overall health should be questioned. Cracks in the ends of the logs are another sign that the log is too dry. To correct this, logs can be soaked for 24-48 hours before inoculation to rehydrate them.
After inoculation, it is important to keep the logs moist. In dry areas, misters with timers can be used to regularly mist the logs several times a day. The logs should be stacked in a shady area to prevent them from drying out.
During the pinning stage of early mushroom development, a log moisture content of 35% to an optimum of 60% is required. "Pinning" often occurs naturally about a week after shocking (or soaking) the logs, but it can also occur as the logs dry out three to five days after shocking. Mushrooms are highly vulnerable to cold and windy conditions during this stage, which may inhibit growth.
To induce forced fruiting, the logs can be soaked in clean water for six to 24 hours in the summer or two to three days in the spring or fall. The length of soaking depends on various factors, including air and water temperatures, the log's age, and the thickness of its bark. Older and thin-barked logs absorb water more quickly and do not require as long of a soak as younger or thick-barked logs. After a year of maintaining sufficient moisture levels, the logs can be completely submerged in chlorine-free water for one to two days to induce a flush of mushrooms.
Wine Cap Mushrooms: Healthy or Harmful?
You may want to see also
Log weight
The weight of a log is an important indicator of its overall health and moisture content. Logs that are too light may be dried out or already dead when cut. Cracks in the ends of logs are another sign of over-drying. To correct this condition, soak the logs for 24 to 48 hours before inoculation to rehydrate them.
When selecting logs for mushroom cultivation, it is important to choose logs from healthy living trees, with no rot at all. The best time to cut logs is during the winter into spring when the trees are completely dormant. However, plugging your logs with mushroom spawn should take place within zero to two months of felling the tree, with some sources recommending a maximum wait of just two weeks.
After inoculation, it is important to keep the logs moist. In dry climates, this can be achieved by misting the logs regularly with a mister that comes on with a timer. Misting the logs several times a day can help maintain consistent moisture levels.
As the fungi grow, they will consume the lignin and cellulose in the wood, causing the logs to gradually lose weight over time. Eventually, the logs will be fully converted into mushrooms and fall apart. A six-inch white oak log inoculated with shiitake, for example, can produce mushrooms for five to six years before disintegrating.
Unlocking the Secrets of Mushroom Strain Crossing
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There is no fixed schedule for watering mushroom logs. Instead, it depends on factors such as the air and water temperature, the log's age, and the log's bark thickness.
The frequency of watering depends on the ambient temperature, the log's age, and the thickness of its bark. Older and thinner-barked logs absorb water more quickly and require shorter soaking times.
You can check the moisture content of the logs by hefting them and comparing their weight to that of other logs of similar size. If the log feels light, it may be dry and require soaking.
The length of soaking depends on various factors, but generally, it ranges from six to 24 hours in the summer and two to three days in the spring or fall.
Regular watering or misting is essential to maintain consistent moisture levels in the logs, especially in dry areas. However, overwatering should be avoided as it may promote the growth of undesirable fungi.
