Shiitake Talk 101
Wether you’ve taken our Shiitake Cultivation classes or purchased a Shiitake Log from us, this page will give you the information you need to grow and fruit your Shiitake mushroom logs. The information included below are instructions for logs and totems that have already been inoculated.
If you’re looking to inoculate your own shiitake logs check out field and forest mushrooms here:
CARING FOR YOUR SHIITAKE LOG OR TOTEM
Now that you have your shiitake log or totem at home you need to know how to care for it. Mushroom logs are fairly easy to take care of, especially if you live in the Pacific Northwest like most of our supporters do.
The Growing parameters for mushroom logs are like the cycles in nature. You won’t have to do to much to have success fruiting mushrooms. Here are the basic “How to’s”
Location
Mushroom logs should be kept outside in a shaded area. You can keep them indoors but they benefit from humidity, and they can take up a lot of space so we recommend keeping them outside. You want to have access to water where ever you put them. We recommend standing them upright in your garden beds, leaning against trees, in a planter pot with veggies or flowers, or even flat on the ground forming a barrier. (The downside is weeding around the log and competing with other fungi who also want to eat your mushroom log)
The When and Why
Watering and shading your log will help keep the mycelium growing and colonizing. If there’s no rain in the forecast for extended periods we suggest hosing it down once or twice a week. Treat your log like a plant, if it’s too dry it will grow slowly or even die. Mushrooms have a 80%-90% water weight. That’s why they generally fruit in the spring and fall. During the rainy season. If you’re not sure your log is getting enough water you can test it by lifting it up. Healthy logs can weight a lot (over 10 pounds). If it feels really light it probably needs to be watered.
Fruiting and Forced Friuting
Logs and Totems can take a year to start fruiting. When they’re fully colonized you will see white netting(mycelium) around drill holes and on the ends of the log.
In the fall, when it’s starting to rain, and the ambient temperature is hanging out in the 50-60* F range you are ready to start fruiting your mushrooms. This is usually from late August to October. If you simply water and protect your log you will have successful fruiting, BUT If you want to force your fruiting place your log in water for 12-24 hours. Do not exceed 24 hours. You can do this in a small pool or tub.
Log Dormancy
Mushrooms will fruit for several years from the logs. However, they go through dormancy seasons. In winter and Summer you will not see shiitake mushrooms on your log. During this time the mycelium is reserving its energy, breaking down the log, and waiting for the right parameters to start fruiting again.
DON’T WORRY THOUGH! The logs are large enough to fruit in the fall and spring for several years! Larger logs can fruit for over 5 years yielding many pounds of delicious Shiitakes. If you take care of your log properly you will have fresh home grown mushrooms and an exciting garden and home addition for years!
For even more information we recommend Field and Forests list of How To’s for more information. Visit their website HERE
Photos from our Shiitake Mushroom Workshop, Spring 2023
In the spring of 2023 we embarked on our mission to create a food and native plant habitat in our forested areas. We have several accessible acres of mixed woods that include Big Leaf Maple which is an ideal wood for Shiitake Mushroom cultivation. We selectively harvested parts of our Maple wood to inoculate them with Shiitake mushrooms. We harvested these trees in such a way that would provide better light for the native plant species in our understories while not killing the entire tree. Now we have an entire acre of woods that have mushrooms and medicinal plants thriving together.