shitake – Simplify Gardening

Ever thought about how you can grow mushrooms at home? They can grow in all sorts of a medium such as straw, woodchip, cardboard and coffee grounds. Do not limit yourself to button mushrooms that are purchased from a supermarket; there are literally thousands of edible types. One way my partner and I have experimented with growing mushrooms is by inoculating hardwood logs. We buy dowels impregnated with the mushroom mycelium and just drill holes in the log and bang them in. The mycelium will then take between 8 months and a year to spread through the log and will give spring and autumn crops for up to 4 years! We are currently growing, Oyster, Shiitake, Lions mane and Chicken of the woods. It is very exciting. Choosing a Log When choosing a log it is important to go for the right type, most mushrooms do not grow in pine and dislike fruitwood but love oak and ash. The best time to cut the log is in winter when the sugars are in the wood, not the leaves as this is what the mycelium eats up. When you have cut your log leave it to rest for a couple of weeks so that the sap loses its anti-fungal properties, some people leave them ‘to rest’ for 4 weeks or more but this can raise the risk of other competitive fungi inhabiting your log. So now you have your log and your dowels (there are plenty of places on the internet to buy them from). Usually, the correct sized drill bit is supplied with the dowels. Drill your holes about 6 inches apart and tap the dowels in. Seal the dowels in the holes with cheese wax and it must be heated. Ensure it sizzles when you dab it over the hole. The wax keeps the moisture in and competing for fungi out! All That's Left To Do All that is left is to put the log somewhere shady and damp. It is really important that it does not dry out. In time you will see the white mycelium at the end of the log. If you are growing Shiitake you could try forcing it to fruit. Do this by dropping it, banging it, or it soaking in in water. Last but not least, beware of slugs!! They just love mushrooms and will eat your precious crop overnight! https://youtu.be/mPv5K2fdAJg Growing Mushrooms On Logs - Everything You Need To Know If you are not signed up for this blog why not do so now, you will find the link above us in the right-hand sidebar. If you are subscribed to the blogs it will be delivered directly to your email address each time I release new content just like this. If you enjoyed it please share the love by sharing the blog with your friends on other platforms. Thanks. Tony