Then, the logs sit in a shady spot, and you moisten them during dry spells.
Otherwise, theyre on their own.
Thats a considerable return on your initial investment of effort, and no weeding or pest control is needed.
Credit:Kritsada Panichgul
How to Grow Shiitake Mushrooms at Home
1.
Harvest logs in winter while theyre still dormant.
Fresh, dormant trees contain an abundance of sugars and nutrients that support shiitake growth.
Credit:Kritsada Panichgul
Dont use logs that have been lying on the ground; they must be freshly harvested.
The logs need to be about 4 to 6 inches in diameter and 3 to 4 feet long.
This size is easy to handle while giving the mushrooms enough substrate.
The logs should be well covered in bark.
They are now ready for inoculation.
Space the holes 5 to 6 inches apart in a row all the way down the log.
Continue drilling holes in rows until you are back where you started.
When youve made the holes all around the log, its time to insert the plugs.
With a hammer or mallet, gently tap the plugs in place.
They should fit snugly in the drilled holes.
Dab some melted wax (paraffin or cheese wax) over the opening of each hole to seal it.
The wax keeps moisture in and prevents other fungi from entering.
Finally, label the log with the date.
Set the logs in the shade.
Continue stacking the logs in pairs, keeping the center open.
Now, its up to the shiitakes to colonize the logs with their mycelium.
Give them a soaking spray every week or two.
Harvest and enjoy the shiitakes.
These quickly develop into full-sized shiitakes in a few days.
Fruiting usually follows a good soaking rain.
The best fruiting occurs in spring and fall; the fungus may need to rest in between.
However, continue to check the logs.
A flush of new mushrooms might appear a few days after a summer shower.
Harvest the mushrooms promptly as soon as they reach a decent size.
Use them immediately for a delicious treat, orstore them in the fridge for a few days.
You may find that you are harvesting mushrooms faster than you’ve got the option to use them.
Store the dried mushrooms in glass jars.
Two other common mushrooms that can be grown on logs are oyster mushrooms and lions mane mushrooms.
Spawn plugs for these are available from online suppliers, and they insert into logs like shiitakes plugs.
