GUIDE TO GROWING MUSHROOMS ON LOGS

Complied by David Warfel - [email protected] – IG @fireinthecreek
Sources: Field and Forest, North Spore, Mushroom Mountain
Ideal Logs for Growing Mushrooms
• Cut from a healthy tree during dormancy (late Fall-winter)
• Hardwoods such as Poplar, Oak, Beech, Sweetgum are usually preferred. NOT Pine
• Do a Google search for “Mushroom Log Species Chart” to find the suitable match of mushroom and tree. North Spore, Field and Forest, and Mushroom Mountain are reputable sources.
Storing Cut Logs
• Logs should be kept indoors or in a shady place off the ground for at least two weeks after being cut. They can sit as long as 8 weeks or more if they pass the health check shown below.
Inoculation
• Spawn is substrate that already has mycelium growing on it, in the form of sawdust or plugs.
• Mycelium is a root-like structure of a fungus consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae
• Spawn needs about 4 weeks of daytime highs above 45°F for mycelium to grow.
Log Health Check before Inoculation
• Check 1: Moisture Content
o Look for cracks at the ends of logs for signs of drying. If cracks reach the edges and are as thick as a coin you will need to soak for 24-48 hours. If they rise, let them surface dry and inoculate. If they sink, let them dry for 24 hours before inoculating.
• Check 2: Sapwood Health
o A healthy log will be relatively heavy with a continuous ring of light-colored, nutritious sapwood. Drilling into it, notice if the wood is darker, indicating dead or diseased wood.
• Check 3: Bark Health
o Small cracks emanating from the outer bark surface inward indicate uneven drying or curing and can serve as channels for contaminants. If the bark comes off easily it’s not healthy. Look for black spots that indicate disease.
Log Storage after inoculation
• Most problems in the fruiting cycle of mushroom cultivation are linked back to the initial spawn run phase, so it pays to give the inoculation and initial spawn run year lots of attention
• Moisture is key. Pick a spot outside with shade and protection from wind.
• Covering the log(s) with a tarp can also provide shade, protection, and trap moisture.
• If it doesn’t rain in one week then give it a good soak. It is best to irrigate heavily and infrequently than lightly and frequently. However, do not attempt to soak logs for rehydration purposes after 4 months of spawn run have occurred.
When will the mushrooms come out?
• Shiitake sawdust spawn inoculated in late Fall should produce by next Fall.
• Oyster sawdust spawn inoculated in late Fall should produce by late summer.
• The thicker the log the longer it will take for mycelium to grow and mushrooms to come out.
• After a few of months, you should start to see white mycelium growth at the ends of the log.