Shiitakes will grow on freshly sawed wood.
Growing mushrooms at home is a hobby that provides fresh food for your family. Shiitake is one of the most common mushrooms used in cooking, and these mushrooms can be grown by an amateur home grower with care and consideration. Shiitake grows best on freshly sawed wood taken from a tree, so if you have some extra firewood or know a landscaper with logs to spare, you can create the ideal environment to grow shiitake mushrooms.
Instructions
1. Obtain a sawed log from a landscaper or other professional cutter. If you intend to cut your own wood, the ideal time is in midwinter for a spring growing. Make sure your chosen wood is still alive and is free of any infections or fungus.
2. Measure 2 inches from one end of the log. Drill a 1-inch deep and 1-inch diameter hole with a high-powered drill. Move 6 inches along the log and drill another, continuing until you complete a row. Leave at least 2 inches of space on the other end of the log as well.
3. Space your next row of holes 2 inches above or below the first. Stagger the holes so that they form a diamond pattern and the holes don't line up directly. Continue until you have covered the entire wood piece with holes.
4. Inculcate the log with shiitake spawn. Use a pipette or specially designed plunging tool to add spawn to each hole, filling each hole completely. Inculcation must take place immediately after drilling, or you run the risk that the holes will become infected with other contaminants.
5. Seal each hole with hot cheese wax to prevent the spawn from running out of the hole or other contaminants from getting in.
6. Store the log in an area protected from sunlight and wind. Cover the area with tarps and awnings, or place the log in a grove of trees that provides natural protection. Mushrooms will not grow in sunny or windy areas.
7. Stack the log on a table or metal support system so that it sits at least 6 inches above the ground. Logs sitting directly on soil can be contaminated by insects or other soil dwellers.
8. Douse the log with cool water every time the bark becomes dry. The ideal moisture level for mushroom growth is between 35 and 45 percent, according to the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry. Never allow the logs to dry out completely, or the mushrooms will die. Mushrooms should begin to show through in 10 to 12 weeks, depending on the temperature and humidity of your climate.
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