Do mushroom logs work?

Do mushroom logs work?

Each log will produce shiitake mushrooms up to 3 times per year for a 3-4 year period if handled properly. Keep in mind that the first year’s harvest is usually of lower yields, but will increase in subsequent years as the shiitake mycelium grow and becomes more established within the log.

What do I do with my mushroom log?

Just pluck off your mushrooms by hand, cook, and eat.. Once you’ve plucked off all the mushrooms, you can rest your log for several weeks or longer (take a vacation?) or soak it again right away, overnight submerged in cold water, to “force” your mushroom to flush again.

What is a mushroom log?

Logs are hand-cut and inoculated with shiitake mushroom spores in visible drill holes that are covered in cheese wax. Logs can be stood upright or laid horizontally for growing. Just soak the log for 24 hours in cold water, mist it occasionally, and watch your crop emerge once the inoculation period is reached! .

How do you grow mushroom logs?

The basic steps for growing mushrooms:

1. Obtain mushroom spawn (fungal tissue in a carrier medium, usually sawdust) and tools.
2. Harvest logs to inoculate.
3. Drill holes in logs.
4. Fill holes with mushroom spawn.
5. Seal the holes with wax.
6. Set logs in a place they will stay moist.
7. Wait for colonization of logs by spawn.

How often do you water mushroom logs?

It’s advisable to mist or water the logs 1–2 times daily until you start to see mushroom primordia (baby mushrooms) emerge from the logs. This will usually take 7–10 days depending on the temperature and humidity.

Should I buy a mushroom grow kit?

So are these kits worth buying? If you can find a high quality kit, then yes- absolutely. There are loads of different branded mushroom kits available, and lots of different species of mushrooms you can grow… so it’s worth it to do a little bit of research before diving in.

What time of year do you inoculate mushroom logs?

Spring through early summer is usually the best time to inoculate those logs because the average daily temperatures (50–75 °F) are usually more favorable for fungal mycelium growth. This allows the mycelium to aggressively colonize the wood before the native competitors try to take hold.

How long soak mushroom blocks?

Once you are ready to re-initiate the block for another flush of mushrooms, soak the block in a bucket of cold water overnight (about 8 to 12 hours). The block will want to float, so you may need to place something on top of the block to submerge it. A plate or lid works well.

How fresh do mushroom logs need to be?

Once a log has “flushed” (produced a crop of mushrooms), it should be allowed to “rest” for at least 10 to 12 weeks to provide the mycelium (roots) time to replenish the energy required for fruiting.

Can you put mushroom plugs in live trees?

can you put mushroom plugs in live trees? Those mushrooms won’t colonize a healthy tree and if you put plugs into them, they should either die or you as the interfering human effectively started to kill the tree because you damaged the tree which may cause local decay.

Where should I put mushroom grow kit?

We recommend placing your grow kit on your kitchen bench, out of direct sunlight. This will allow you to check on them daily and serve as a reminder to spray your grow kit regularly to keep humidity high. Keep it out of wind or away from heaters which can cause it to dry out.

How do you soak mushroom logs?

How to Force Fruiting and What to Look For:

1. Soak log in water for 24 hours, but not past 48 hours. Soak Logs in Water for 24 hours.
2. Place log in the shade with high humidity and scout regularly for mushroom primordia.
3. Approximately 12 days after soaking the logs should be ready for harvest.

Should I mist mycelium?

You want to mist before fanning. Misting the mycelium or fruit bodies shouldn’t be sprayed directly. A light spray like this once or twice a day helps develop pinning on the mycelium from the water droplets. You want to see thousands of tiny droplets on top the substrate.

How long will mushroom plugs last?

How long can I store mushroom spawn? Plug and sawdust spawn will store for six months to a year in a refrigerator. The fresher the better, but mycelium is pretty resilient. If you don’t get around to inoculating right away, tuck it away in your refrigerator until you’re ready.

Can you inoculate a living tree?

It is not advised to inoculate standing timber since the fungus kills the host tree.

How long will mushroom grow kit last?

If you don’t want to (or can’t) grow right away, you will need to put your kit in the refrigerator—3–5°C will keep it in “hibernation mode”. At this temperature, the grow kit can be stored for a maximum of 3 to 4 weeks. Important: if you store it, keep the grow kit in an airtight plastic bag to prevent contamination.

How long do you soak mushroom logs?