How to Get Shiitake Mushroom Logs to Bear Fruit

A mushroom log is a piece of wood where your mushrooms can grown and fruit from. You’ve cut your logs, inoculated them with spore plugs and waited the prescribed time. Now it’s time to get your logs to bear those wonderful shiitake mushrooms you’ve been waiting for. Initiating the logs can be done after 6 months, but are more productive at 9-12 months.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Inoculated shiitake logs
• Tub, sprinkler or soaker hoses

1. Remove any tarp or shade cloth from the log stacks.

2. Soak or water the logs for 24 hours. Avoid using chlorinated water; well or rain water works well. If you know your area is in for a heavy rain, this will work perfectly.

3. Help initiate fruiting by standing the logs upright. Leaning against a wall or standing in sand will help promote growth. Water once or twice a week.

4. Watch for the shiitake mushrooms to begin appearing in approximately two weeks.

5. Begin harvesting the shiitakes two weeks after they first appear.

Tips & Warnings

• Depending on the temperature and humidity of your area, mushrooms may be ready to pick in as little as a week.
• Local restaurants are often eager to purchase fresh shiitakes if you have more than you need.
• Shiitakes can be dried using a dehydrator or an oven for future use.
• take logs can be expected to continue to produce for about 4 years if cared for properly.
• Some websites recommend burying the upright logs in the ground. This can cause the logs to rot quickly, therefore cutting the life of mushroom production drastically.

Resources

• Fungi Perfecti, LLC