How to Grow Shittake Mushrooms

Shiitake or black forest mushrooms are grown on hardwood logs. The word "shiitake" literally means "mushroom of the oak" in Japanese. This mushroom is gaining in popularity not only for its medicinal value but also for its fresh meaty taste. The cost of fresh shiitake mushrooms ranges from $5 to $6 per pound. This price makes the tasty morsel an attractive and potentially lucrative crop. Cultivated spawn for growing the mushroom is now readily available on the market place. With a little effort and some basic tools, you can grow shiitake mushrooms under a hardwood tree canopy.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• White oak logs (4 to 6 inches in diameter; 24 to 48 inches long) Paraffin Melting can for wax (such as a coffee can) 5/16-inch drill bit Drill motor Shiitake mushroom spore (dowel rods 1/4 inch in diameter) Small hammer Small brush

1. Gather white oak logs of the recommended size in the late fall. At this time of year, the sap is down, and excess moisture will not prematurely rot the log. White oak logs are the best logs for growing shiitake mushrooms.

2. Melt the paraffin in the melting can. The wax should be ready before you drill holes or place dowels in the log.

3. Lay the log on a firm surface for drilling. Drill the holes in a diamond-shaped pattern using the 5/16-inch drill bit. Leave 3 to 4 inches between the holes around the surface of the log.

4. Open the package of shiitake mushroom spawn. These dowels are typically 1/4 inch in diameter, although larger dowels are available. Drill holes for larger dowels that are 1/16 inch greater in diameter than the dowel itself. Do not allow the package to dry out; reseal the package between applications.

5. Place the dowel over the open hole and use the small hammer to set the dowel into the log. Continue until the all the holes are filled with the spore-covered dowels.

6. Paint the hot wax immediately over the dowel holes using the small brush. All spore dowel holes must be sealed to prevent moisture loss.

7. Stack the prepared logs under oak tree canopies. The logs can be arranged in the shape of a small log cabin or leaned vertically against each other.

8. Keep the logs in a shaded moist environment. They cannot dry out, as this will kill the active spores.

Tips & Warnings

• Deer, squirrels and other rodents will eat the fresh mushrooms. You may have to erect a fencing enclosure to keep out the animals. The mushrooms will crop generally twice a year, once in the spring and the following fall. The logs can produce mushrooms up to 4 years, depending on the quality of the logs and environmental conditions.

References

• Producing Shiitake Mushrooms
• Growing Shiitake Mushrooms