Shiitake needs to believe in the invisible. In the nine to twelve months before the first harvest, the fungus flourishes under the cover of the bark, during which you can only cross your fingers. However, once established, the crop will bear fruit in about seven years. In addition, these umami bombs sell for as much as US$20 per pound at the farmers’ market. Are you ready for the challenge? You want to start now, harvesting the logs that will be used as a growing medium before the trees germinate and release the nutrients stored in the sapwood.

It's not just any old log. They should be 3 inches to 6 inches in diameter and about 31/2 inches long-cut from deciduous hardwood. Oak, maple, ironwood and beech are all good choices. Avoid pine and fruit trees, and wood covered with lichen.

Winter is also an ideal time to buy fingerlings and live culture (similar to seeds). Serious growers prefer sawdust to lay eggs and invest in spring-loaded inoculation tools required to insert sawdust into logs. Hobbyists tend to take shortcuts, such as pre-inoculated wooden dowels, called plug spawning, or even pre-inoculated logs. (Fieldforest.net sells various tools and spawning, including WR46 for beginners; williams-sonoma.com provides pre-inoculated logs.)

In the spring, once all the danger of frost has passed, use an electric drill or a more efficient high-speed angle grinder with a drill bit attachment to inoculate the logs. The size of the drill bit depends on the type of spawning: inoculation tools related to sawdust spawning usually require a 12 mm drill bit; plug spawning, an 8.5 mm one. (When purchasing spawning and/or inoculation tools, please confirm the drill bit size with your supplier.) Work outdoors near the power source and wear protective goggles and ear muffs, and drill 1 inch deep holes along the length of the log every 6 inches. Rotate the log a few inches and drill another row to adjust the position of the holes so that the overall pattern resembles polka dots. Continue turning and drilling until you return to the first row.

If your strain is in the form of a plug, just insert the pin into the hole and hammer until it is flush with the log. For sawdust strains, put a bunch of strains into the cup, insert the inoculation tool into the cup to fill, then lift the tool into the hole and press the button with your thumb to release. In either case, seal each hole with food-grade cheese wax. (I rely on a cheap fryer to melt the wax and use a reusable applicator to apply it.) Place the logs as shown in the picture (see "Stacked Logs" below) in a cool and damp place; they should be close to the ground , But it’s best not to lie on the ground and expose as much surface area as possible to the rain. As long as it doesn't rain for a week or two, water the logs thoroughly.

Stack logs to place ordinary logs on the ground. Then put the inoculated ones on top as shown in the picture above. Illustration by Susan Heather.

Once the temperature rises above 60°F the following spring, soak the logs in clean cold water overnight (in a feed tank or a nearby stream). The next day, move the logs to a cool place, leaning against a tree or fence, and spread a tarp underneath. (Use an organic deterrent like Sluggo to stop slugs, or set up beer traps.) Cover with a fruit blanket or other permeable cloth, and wait 5 to 7 days for the mushrooms to grow. Once the lid is open but not too flat, use a knife to cut the fruit from the log or unscrew it by hand. Put the mushrooms in a paper bag instead of a plastic bag and refrigerate for 10 days. By re-stacking the same logs in the original stratum (see "Stacking Logs" at the top left), you can reprocess them every eight weeks until the night temperature starts to drop below 40°F (at which point the mushrooms enter a dormant state winter). If the log fails to bear fruit in the first place, peel off a little bark: if you see a white film, the inoculation may be successful, but it will take more time to bear fruit. Restack and check again within six weeks.

The following estimation assumes that mushrooms are grown on 100 free logs, and labor costs are not considered. Allow approximately three days for drilling and inoculation, and three hours for each result for a week.

This website uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how to handle your comment data.

I received Christmas shiitake mushroom logs. I live in northern Indiana. Can I put it outside now, or should I put it in the basement until spring?

How long is the growth (result) of shiitake mushrooms.

I have ash logs about three weeks old. Can I use it to grow shiitake mushrooms. Do I use paraffin wax or some wax on the market. I already have a plug (Xiaobai) for shiitake mushrooms. I will use it. In addition to logs, what can I use to grow shiitake mushrooms, what medium do we use to grow white mushrooms

I try to find something that I can grow and make some extra money. I can't take oxygen, so it won't be too difficult. Any ideas?

The Million Garden Campaign not only helps you plant gardens, we also bring gardens to children across the country-you can help. Learn more on milliongardensmovement.org

Necessary cookies are absolutely necessary for the normal operation of the website. This category only includes cookies that ensure the basic functions and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the operation of the website and are specifically used to collect user personal data through analysis, advertising, and other embedded content are called non-essential cookies.