Latest Ways to Start Your Own Shiitake Mushroom Logs

Growing of Shiitake mushrooms is easier than all other types. This is mainly because you can inoculate the logs with only one type of inoculant thus making it easy to identify.

Buying and planting

But as an amateur grower, you can always buy Shiitake Mushroom Logs and follow the instructions to plant it. By keeping it properly moist and aerated within a couple of weeks you can get the desired result.So, this growing season you can get your hands on these logs and grow your own fruits. Or alternately you can grow your own logs.

Steps to starting your mushroom logs

You need to follow the processes to grow Shiitake Mushroom Logs. Here are certain things you need to know:

     Freshly cut log: Always take logs that are cut within a span of 72 hours or less. Keep the diameter of the log around 100-150mm

      Shiitake spawns ( plugs or sawdust)

      Hand drill

      Organic beeswax

5    Paintbrush

Mallet with rubber heads

The steps:

      Substrate

Generally, wood-based substrates are best. Although you can choose any wood you prefer, it’s best to choose oak, maple, birch, ironwood or other deciduous hardwood trees.

      Prepare the substrate

  In case it’s sawdust pellets you are using just soak them for around 30 minutes to break the pellets apart.

       In case of sawdust or straws soak them in hot water (temperature about 65 to 70 degrees) for 1-2 hours. Alternatively, you can also try a lime bath (high pH) for 12- 18 hours.

         You can also enrich the substrate by adding nitrogen as a supplement

      Inoculation

  For both sawdust and plug spawn uses a 12mm drill bit.

         Now through the entire length of the log keep drilling holes.

         Preferably keep each hole 6 inches apart.

         Keep the depth around 1 inch.

          Likewise keeping drilling holes throughout the circumference of the log. Make sure to drill the rows alternative to each other for allowing space for the spawns to grow.

          If you have a span dowel hammer them down till they are flushed with logs

            If you are using sawdust spawn then force them into the holes

        Finally, seal it with beeswax

       Incubation

    For logs keep them in incubation for 6 to 12months

               You can use wood pellets or bricks to prevent other fungal growth

           Make sure to cover your spawns with a shade cloth to keep out direct sun rays and help in aeration.

         For moist areas keep watering once a week for 10minutes. And for dry areas do it twice a week.

 Fruiting

    Generally, it takes around 6 months for Shiitakes to start fruiting however it’s best to wait for 12 months.

           To initiate fruiting soak the spawns in cold, clean water for 24 hours.

           Put them back in shade in a vertical position.

           Keep watering the logs once or twice a day for 5minutes.

           Within 2-3 days primordial fruiting should start

To wrap

The process of Shiitake mushroom although a bit prolonged is easy and extremely effective as per the yield scales. So ring the leading mycelial producers and start your own kitchen pantry now.