When you purchase a shiitake log kit, the log is fully inoculated and is ready to fruit. The best place to keep the log is outside in a very shaded area. The log should be exposed to natural rain water. You may also keep the log in an indoor environment, however, you will need at least 12 hours of indirect light whether it be LED or natural light. You will also have to water the log like a plant if keeping the logs indoors or in a covered area such as a deck or garage. In dry spells, you will need to use a water hose and heavily spray the log at least once a week. The log will naturally fruit once the growing conditions are perfect such as after a heavy rain storm with cooler weather. If you choose to let your log naturally fruit, you will need to check it often and also after every rain storm to make sure you do not miss any mushrooms. I have found that shiitakes prefer a cooler temperature between 60-70 degrees and do not fruit as much during summer months as they do in the spring and fall.
Shiitake mushrooms are the only cultivated mushrooms in which we can make the mushrooms fruit on command by a method called force fruiting. This is when we soak the log in water for 12 hours to simulate a heavy rain storm. You will need a 5 gallon bucket and a brick or rock to hold the log down under water. The best time to soak the log is at night. I usually start the soak at 8 pm at night and remove the log from the bucket the next morning at 8 am. This is a 12 hour soak. Do not soak the log longer than 24 hours because it can damage the mycelium. After the soak, I usually keep my log in an indoor environment for fruiting such as basement, garage or a bathroom. You just want to make sure that the room has high humidity. I use LED lights and keep them on for 12 hours a day. You will use a spray bottle and mist the log 3-4 times a day. I lightly drape a grocery bag over the top of log to create a humidity dome which helps the baby mushrooms emerge. I also put a small dish under the base of the log and add a little water each day to the base. The log will naturally wick up the water which also helps the mushrooms fruit. In about 5-7 days, the mushrooms will be ready to harvest and eat. The caps begin to flatten out and will start curling upwards. The best time to harvest them is right before they start to curl up. Grab the mushroom at the base and twist.
After I force fruit my log, I will return to the woods in a shady to rest until I am ready to fruit the log again. You cannot do this method of force fruiting your log more than 3-4 times a year. The shiitake must rest after fruiting for at least 8-10 weeks. Be sure to put the date that you soak your log on your calendar and do not do this method until you are at least 8 weeks out from the prior fruiting. The same is true when naturally fruiting outdoors. If the shiitake fruits after a rainstorm, the log will take a break and not fruit for about 2-3 months. Always keep an eye on your log and make sure it is not getting too dried out. If it is, just simply water it like a plant but do not soak the log unless you are force fruiting. I like to keep my logs rested on a pallet in the woods but you can also use some cardboard or landscape fabric under the log. The helps to keep competition and termites out of the log. Do not place the log in direct sunlight. It must be in a shady area so that the log does not dry out. The shiitake log can last up to 2-3 years depending on the diameter of the log and how much it fruits. The log will slowly start breaking down as the fungus eats through the substrate until it finally breaks down. I hope you enjoy growing your fresh mushrooms! If you
have any questions, you can email me anytime.
Comments