How to Grow Shitake Mushrooms at Home

Shiitake mushrooms grow best in cool, damp conditions.

Shiitake mushrooms have a pungent taste and chewy texture and have been used in Asian cuisine for more than 2,000 years. Shiitake mushrooms grow on logs, and their easy cultivation and popularity in cooking make them a valuable alternative crop for many farmers. But shiitake mushroom production isn't limited to commercial agriculture. Home gardeners can inoculate a scrap log and begin producing gourmet mushrooms at home. Under optimal conditions, a single log can supply you with mushrooms for up to six years.

Things You'll Need

• Hardwood log
• Hand drill with 1/2-inch bit
• Shiitake mushroom spawn
• Wax

Instructions

1. Choose a log for inoculation. Shiitakes grow on logs from a variety of hardwood trees, but white oak and sweetgum logs tend to work best. Inoculate the log within two weeks of felling it. Logs should measure between 3 and 6 inches in diameter; choose a length based on the number of mushrooms you want to produce. Make sure the bark remains intact.

2. Soak the log for one to three days before inoculation. Inoculate logs only when the daytime temperature consistently remains at 50 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

3. Drill ½-inch holes 1 inch deep, beginning 2 inches from the end of the log. Space holes 5 to 8 inches apart and continue down the length of the log. Start the next row of holes 2 to 4 inches above the first, staggering them between the first set of holes. Continue in this pattern around the log.

4. Fill the holes with spawn and seal the holes with wax.

5. Water logs during the first two months to keep them moist. Store logs in a location, such as under a tree, where they will remain cool and moist. The first mushrooms will appear six to 18 months after inoculation. Logs typically produce mushrooms in the spring or fall, often after a rainfall. You can soak logs for one to three days in cool water to encourage the emergence of mushrooms.

6. Harvest mushrooms daily in the afternoon by twisting or cutting mushrooms off at the base.

Tips & Warnings

• Different strains of shiitake spawn have different characteristics to serve your needs. The time needed to produce the first mushrooms, temperature and moisture requirements and mushroom appearance can all vary based on the strain you use.

• Rotate logs so that all get good ventilation. Also keep logs moist. The bark should be dry but the inside should be moist.

• Refrigerate spawn in a dark location if you're not ready to use it right away. Remove the spawn from the refrigerator three to 10 days before inoculation and store it at 70 degrees Fahrenheit to encourage growth.

References

• Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service: Growing Shiitake Mushrooms
• Alabama Cooperative Extension Service: Shiitake Mushroom Production in Logs