Shiitake mushroom cultivation typically involves inoculating hardwood logs with shiitake spawn, allowing them to colonize, and then forcing them to fruit. Alternatively, shiitake can be grown in sawdust blocks.
- Preparing the Logs or Substrate:
- Logs: Cut hardwood logs (like oak, maple, beech) into manageable sizes, typically 4-6 inches wide and 3-4 feet long.
- Sawdust Blocks: Mix hardwood sawdust with a small percentage of wheat bran and water to create a suitable substrate, A mix of hardwood sawdust with 5% wheat bran is an excellent substrate for shiitake mushrooms. Ideally, set the moisture content to around 55% and the pH to 6.5.
- Inoculation:
- Logs: Drill holes into the sapwood of the logs (every 6 inches) and insert shiitake spawn (plug or sawdust spawn) into the holes. Seal the holes with beeswax to prevent drying and insects.
- Sawdust Blocks: Inoculate the prepared sawdust mix with shiitake spawn.
- Colonization:
- Logs: Place inoculated logs in a shaded, humid location for 6-12 months to allow the mycelium to colonize the logs.
- Sawdust Blocks: Incubate the inoculated bags in a controlled environment (around 72°F).
Fruiting:
- Logs: After colonization, shock the logs by submerging them in cold water (at least 20°F colder than air temperature) for 12-24 hours to force fruiting.
- Sawdust Blocks: Once colonization is complete, create a suitable environment for fruiting, such as increased airflow.
Harvesting:
- Harvest shiitake mushrooms when they are mature, typically when the caps are fully open and the stems are thick.
Additional Tips:
- Environmental Conditions: Maintain a moisture level of 30-40% in the logs, and a temperature of 60-77°F to promote mycelial growth and fruiting.
- Harvesting: You can harvest multiple flushes (crops) from the same logs or bags.
- Storage: Once harvested, shiitake mushrooms can be stored in a cool, dry place or dehydrated for longer storage