Grow Your Own Shiitake Mushrooms On Logs

Shitake mushrooms are quite popular and challenging to grow because the mycelium is not much aggressive. Also, it requires a longer incubation time, and you need to put in some extra effort. It produces more fresh mushrooms, which has many benefits like fighting against tumors, boosting immune levels, etc. They are delicious, and when you grow them on logs, it produces fresh mushrooms for at least five to six years. Investing some time in growing your shiitake mushroom will let you have fresh mushrooms. 

Here is a process that will help you to grow shiitake mushrooms on logs. Take a look!

1.      Pick a substrate

A substrate is a medium where the mushroom first establishes like mycelium. They are pickier and can grow in cardboard, coffee grounds, etc. and needs a wood-based medium to extract the nutrients that need. Therefore, Shiitake Logs grow better in fresher wood, and the logs are usually of 10cm in diameter and 40cm in length. 

2.      Preparing the substrate

Some of the substrates where the product grows will be pasteurized and do not need sterilization. If you are using fresh or straw sawdust, you need to maintain a temperature between 5 to 25 degrees Celsius. If you are looking for Shiitake logs, Agrinoon can offer good quality ones. The humidity should be 80 to 95%, and the CO2 requirement is between 700 to 1100ppm. Make sure the requirements are maintained to ensure proper fruiting. 

3.      Inoculation 

While inoculating logs outdoor, ensure that you do after last frost danger has passed. With a power drill, you need to make holes and make sure you are wearing protective gear while doing so. Drill rows on holes till you complete the entire log circumference. After that, you need to insert spawn dowels and inoculating tools and seal them with the help of wax. 

4.      Incubation 

Shiitake mushrooms consume longer incubation time for at least six months, which can extend to one year. You need to keep them in a shady environment and cover them with a breathable cloth. Make sure that you are not using any plastic material, and if you are living the log in a moist climate, you need to water them for 10 minutes once a week. In case you are keeping them in a dry environment, make sure you water them twice a week for 10 minutes. 

5.      Fruiting 

Mostly, they will fruit on their own, in case it does not grow, you need to initiate them to produce food. Ideally, it takes around nine to twelve months to get mycelium, which is strong and fresh. To initiate, you need to keep the product under cold water for a day. Once you do that, you would notice that fruiting has started after a few days. 

Harvesting 

For harvesting, it’s better to cut the mushroom stem with a knife and live them like that. Twisting them might create a negative impact, and new mushrooms might not grow. Ensure that you keep watering the logs without fail; otherwise, the moisture level will reduce. 

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What Everyone Ought To Know About Oyster Mushroom Spawn

Do you have an adventurous bent of mind and want to start experimenting with a new cultivation project? Then the ideal answer for you is mushrooms. For a lot of people, this has turned out to be a lucrative project. If you are still intimated about the idea and strongly feel that having a Botany degree will be helpful, then you are mistaken. You can get involved in this project by having a firm grasp of the fundamental concepts of fungi culture.

Attain a clear perception

If you are a newbie, you may want to start your cultivation journey on a small scale. When you attain success in this venture, then you attempt the commercial front. Acquire Oyster mushroom Log from reputed suppliers through the website of agrinoon.com.

·         Can be cultivated easily

The first thing that you will require consideration is the kind of toadstools you are interested in growing. Shiitake, oyster, and button are the commonly cultivated ones. Use Oyster mushroom Log for getting higher yields. It is a sensible approach to start the project with oyster variety because, compared to other varieties, they are easy to grow. The icing on the cake is that these edible fungi are tasteful and, at the same time, offer a host of advantages. 

·         Start your journey

If you delve into history, you will find that these fungi used to grow in the wild on fallen logs and trees that have died. Their wide-scale cultivation was noticed during the Second World War. In modern times the production of such edible toadstools has grown by leaps and bounds. Use Oyster mushroom Log for increased aeration and for providing adequate breathing space to develop.   

·         Reduction of colonization time

Adjustment of the substrate with spawn is essential. Invest adequate time in this phase because this will help in the curtailing of the colonization time. If you do not have a backyard, then also you will encounter no issues. Fruiting indoors is possible. Overall you can get involved in this project by putting in minimal efforts. If you are concerned about the capital aspect, you will also be able to manage a small amount of monetary resources. 

·         Checking the inoculation date

Always pay attention to the date of inoculation. If you are planning to obtain spawn by dropping in at the stores in the locality, then be prepared to examine the inoculation date. Keep this expiry date in mind because it may lead to the rapid degradation of materials due to the setting of mold. If the skin has yellow blotches, then that is an indicator of ruined materials. It is in your interest to use the products as soon as you obtain them. 

Having a cautious approach

It would be best if you were careful to select suppliers involved in the spawn production. Checking the testimonials of customers is useful. You will be able to get an idea about whether the company you have in mind is known to provide reliable products. 

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