How long will a mushroom log produce?
Your log will produce for approximately one year for each inch of log diameter. A 4″ diameter log will likely flush for about four years. The larger your log the longer it takes for the mycelium mat to form, but the longer it lives, and the more mushrooms it will produce.
Can you inoculate fresh cut logs?
The longer “seasoning time” can positively influence overall mushroom yield. Wood should “season” at least 2 weeks before planting; longer for some wood species. Historically, the rule of the thumb has been “fresh is best,” when it comes to deciding how long logs can sit after cutting before inoculation. Why?
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.
What wood does shiitake grow on?
Use hardwood logs like Alder, Ash, Birch, Bitternut, Cherry, Chestnut, Hophornbeam, Ironwood, Maple, Oak, Pecan, Sweet gum, Sycamore, Tulip poplar, Walnut, Willow and others. They do not grow on conifers. Shiitake sawdust spawn.
How do you water mushroom logs?
Start by soaking your logs completely for 24 hours in cold non-chlorinated water. You can train a sprinkler on them or soak them in a tub or barrel. A five-gallon bucket works well for a 12” log. You shouldn’t use chlorinated water, but rain water or city water (such as in Minneapolis anyway) is good.
Can you grow shiitake on Pine?
Avoid fruit wood such as apples, ash, soft hardwoods such as aspen, or evergreens such as pine or spruce. Since this mushroom (as all mushrooms, this one is a fungus) doesn’t compete well with other wild fungi, logs should be freshly cut within one day to three weeks of use—the sooner the better.
How big of a log do you need to grow mushrooms?
Mushrooms can be a short lived perennial for your homestead when you grow mushrooms on logs. What yields can I expect? On average a 4 foot log that is 4 inches in diameter will produce 1 lb of mushrooms each year for 4 years, depending on the type of log.
How can I grow mushrooms on my homestead?
Log cultivation of mushrooms is one of the easiest ways to grow mushrooms on the homestead. In log cultivation newly felled trees are inoculated with mushroom fungus and allowed to mature over a season.
Can you grow shiitake mushrooms on a log?
Shiitake will also respond to stomping, but only if it has been fully colonized and is ready for a physical shock. Growing mushrooms on logs is a great way to add high-quality, nutritious produce to your diet. For many, it’s a labor of love, and a small price to pay for years of fresh harvests.
Can you grow oyster mushrooms on a log?
Oyster mushrooms come in a range of colors and tastes. While they’re commercially grown on substrates like straw or coffee grounds, in nature they grow on trees, so logs are a great choice. They have a short incubation period, which means you can harvest oyster mushrooms from your logs within the fall of the same year that you inoculate them.