Michael Davis
Shiitake mushrooms, a delicious edible fungus from East Asia, can be grown at home with a little patience and preparation. Shiitake mushrooms are a little more challenging to grow than other mushrooms as they require a longer incubation time and a wood-based growing medium. However, the extra effort is worth it as shiitake mushrooms produce more flushes of fresh mushrooms for you to harvest, sometimes for years under the right conditions. The first step to cultivating shiitake mushrooms is to decide on a substrate—a growing medium where the mushrooms will first establish themselves as mycelium. Logs and blocks of sawdust are popular substrate choices, but it is important to sterilize the substrate to remove competing organisms and maximize yield.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Difficulty level | Shiitake mushrooms are more difficult to grow than other mushrooms and require a longer incubation time. |
| Nutritional value | Low in sodium and calories, but a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. |
| Yield | On average, shiitake mushrooms produce 3 to 5 flushes of fresh mushrooms when grown on sawdust or grain. When grown on logs, they can provide fresh mushrooms every 5 weeks for 4 to 6 years. |
| Substrate | Shiitake mushrooms require a wood-based growing medium, typically logs or blocks of sawdust. |
| Pasteurization | Pasteurization or sterilization of the substrate is essential to reduce competing pathogens and maximize yield. |
| Temperature | Temperature changes trigger shiitake fungus to produce mushrooms. Commercial shiitake is grown in temperature-controlled environments. |
| Strains | Strains vary based on preferred conditions (cold weather, warm weather, or wide range). Wide-range strains are best for beginners. |
| Spore activation | Shiitake mushrooms are fungal spores that remain dormant until they find the right conditions to grow and reproduce. |
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What You'll Learn
Shiitake mushrooms grow best on logs or sawdust blocks
Shiitake mushrooms are typically grown on logs or sawdust blocks. They require cellulose-rich material and will grow on a variety of woody substrates. The two general methods for growing shiitake mushrooms are using logs or artificial sawdust 'logs' in bags.
Shiitake mushrooms are often grown on logs, and this is the best method for beginners. Logs for shiitake growing are usually inoculated between autumn and late winter when dormant trees contain the greatest reserves of sugars and other nutrients that feed the mycelium. The logs should be inoculated within six weeks of felling to give the shiitake the greatest chance of colonisation, with the least threat of competing microorganisms. Logs should be fresh-cut, preferably oak, and less than a month old, with a diameter of 6-10 inches. They should be drilled with holes spaced 4-5 inches apart around the bark-covered surface and filled with either plug or sawdust spawn. The spawn is inserted, and the holes are sealed with wax to prevent the spawn from drying out and to protect it from insects and birds. Logs are ready to fruit when the shiitake has colonised the outer cylinder of available sapwood, which can take six to 24 months post-inoculation. To speed up this process, growers may use log shocking (or soaking) to force fruiting.
Sawdust spawn can also be used to inoculate blocks of sawdust. This method is more commonly used in commercial settings, where large growing bags filled with supplemented sawdust substrate are kept in high-tech fruiting chambers. For home growers, sawdust blocks can be made by mixing sawdust with other nutrients and loading it into a clean plastic bag. The spawn run takes one to three months and should be allowed to take place in a warm environment, with clean water added occasionally to keep the substrate moist.
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Soak logs to trigger mushroom growth
Shiitake mushrooms are a little more challenging to grow than other varieties, such as oyster mushrooms, as they require a longer incubation time. However, the extra effort can be rewarding, as shiitake mushrooms can produce fresh mushrooms every five weeks for up to six years!
Shiitake mushrooms require a wood-based growing medium, such as logs or blocks of sawdust, to obtain the nutrients they need. This process is known as "forced fruiting" and is done at a time chosen by the grower. It involves soaking the logs in water, triggering mushroom growth through temperature and moisture changes. The water should be clean and significantly different in temperature from the ambient air temperature. The length of the soak depends on various factors, including the log's age, bark thickness, and the air and water temperatures. For example, in the summer, a soak time of six to 24 hours is sufficient, while in spring or autumn, this increases to two to three days.
Older logs and those with thinner bark absorb water more quickly and require shorter soaking times than younger or thicker-barked logs. It is also important to maintain the moisture content of the logs above 35 per cent to prevent them from drying out. This can be achieved by covering them with burlap, shade cloth, or plastic, or by stacking them in the shade under conifer trees, which retain their needles year-round. Soaking the logs in this way can help to trigger mushroom growth, but it is important to note that forced fruiting may reduce the production life of the log.
After soaking, lean the logs against trees or stack them in a log cabin pattern, and the mushrooms should begin to emerge within a few days. Ensure that the logs are kept watered twice a day. Once the shiitake caps flatten, they are mature and ready to be harvested. After harvesting, the logs can rest for eight to ten weeks, drying out under a tarp, before being re-soaked for a second time to produce another flush of mushrooms.
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Sterilise logs or substrates to prevent competing fungi
Shiitake mushrooms are a fungus native to Japan and East Asia. They are unlike other fungi in their growth habits and are not as aggressive as common rival fungi. This means that sterilising the logs or substrates you're using to grow shiitake mushrooms is crucial.
Shiitake mushrooms are grown most often on logs but are also grown on nutrient-rich sawdust blocks in commercial settings. They are wood-decaying or decomposer mushrooms, meaning they grow on dead tree logs or plant matter. They require a wood-based growing medium to thrive and get the nutrients they need.
If you opt for a sawdust substrate, you will need to pasteurise it. Pasteurisation or sterilisation is essential in almost all types of mushroom cultivation. Mushrooms can survive within competitive ecosystems in nature, but cultivated mushrooms in optimal conditions produce higher-quality and larger yields. Improving the biological efficiency of mushrooms through the reduction or removal of competing organisms is key to maximising the yield and quality of your mushroom harvests.
There are two methods of pasteurisation: heat pasteurisation and cold-water lime pasteurisation. Heat pasteurisation involves temperatures above 80-85 degrees Celsius.
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Choose a shiitake mushroom strain
Shiitake mushrooms are a fungus from East Asia, commonly used in Japanese and Chinese cooking. They are now cultivated worldwide, with about 25% of yearly mushroom production being shiitake.
Shiitake mushrooms are a little more challenging to grow than other mushrooms, as they require a longer incubation time. They are also more particular about their growing conditions and food sources. They are a wood-decaying mushroom, which means they grow on dead trees or plant matter. They require a wood-based growing medium, usually logs or sawdust blocks, to get the nutrients they need.
When choosing a shiitake mushroom strain, you should consider the growing conditions you can provide and the climate in your area. There are cold weather, warm weather, and wide-range strains available. The wide-range strain is best for beginners and is the most commonly used for year-round commercial cultivation. If you are a first-time grower, this may be the best option. WR46 is a good beginner-friendly strain.
If you are using logs, you can use inoculated wooden dowels, also called plug spawn. These can be hammered into holes that you drill, providing a place for the mushrooms to grow. If you are using sawdust, you will need to pasteurize or sterilize it first. This is essential to remove competing organisms and maximize the yield and quality of your harvest. Serious growers tend to use sawdust spawn, which can be inserted into logs using a special spring-loaded inoculation tool.
Shiitake mushrooms are worth the extra effort, as they produce more flushes of fresh mushrooms than other varieties. They can provide fresh mushrooms every five weeks for four to six years!
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Harvesting shiitake mushrooms
Preparation
Before you begin growing shiitake mushrooms, it's essential to decide on the substrate or growing medium. Shiitake mushrooms are particular about their growing conditions and prefer a wood-based medium, such as logs or blocks of sawdust. Logs are the most common choice for cultivation and are ideal for hobbyists or first-time growers. If you opt for sawdust, pasteurization or sterilization is crucial to ensure optimal growth and reduce competing organisms.
Fruiting
The shiitake logs are ready for fruiting when the shiitake has colonized the outer cylinder of available sapwood, usually between six to 24 months post-inoculation. You'll know the log is ready when you notice elastic and spongy bark, the log no longer makes a ringing sound when struck, and white mycelium appears on the log ends. Temperature and moisture changes trigger fruiting, so log shocking or soaking in water is often used to induce "forced fruiting." The length of soaking depends on various factors, including air and water temperatures, log age, and bark thickness.
Harvesting
Once the mushrooms appear, it's time to harvest! Shiitake mushrooms produce 3 to 5 flushes of fresh mushrooms on average when grown on sawdust or grain. If you're using logs, you can expect fresh mushrooms every five weeks for up to six years! Simply pick the mushrooms as they spring out of the wood.
Storage
After harvesting, proper storage techniques are essential to maintain the freshness and quality of your shiitake mushrooms. Make sure to research the best methods for storing your harvest to extend their shelf life.
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Frequently asked questions
Shiitake mushrooms require a wood-based growing medium, such as logs or blocks of sawdust. Logs are the most practical approach for hobbyists or first-time growers. If you opt for sawdust, you will need to pasteurize your substrate.
Shiitake mushrooms require a longer incubation time than other mushrooms. It takes six to 24 months post-inoculation for the mycelium to store enough nutrients to form mushrooms.
Shiitake mushrooms are delicious and packed with vitamins and fibre. They are also low in sodium and calories. Growing your own mushrooms can also be a fun hobby and an excellent learning experience for kids.
