Shiitake
Mushroom Log Care
Overwintering
Your Log
Now that
you have your logs inoculated and ready, the biggest
challenge you will have is to wait. As Paul Stamets, author
of Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms, says this is
“the Strategy of Benign Neglect”.
The logs
will need to be watered every few weeks if you don’t get
any rain. A 5 to 10 minute steady watering should be fine.
Then, simply store them off the ground in a shady spot. A
concrete block or even 2 regular bricks set on their side
will keep them off the ground. If the temperature is
freezing outside, just leave them alone and let the
mycellium grow. A shade tarp might also be helpful if you
don’t have a good spot. A piece of burlap or shade cloth
suspended at least 4 inches off the log is best. Do not use
plastic to cover your logs; this will cause mold to form.
Fruiting
the Logs
Your
logs could be ready in as little as 6 months. However, the
longer you wait the better the crop will be. I recommend at
least 8 months, though the smaller the log, the sooner it
will be colonized. The best results will be after 12
months. You can check the progress by chipping a little
bark away near one of the plugs. If you see little white
fibers then you know you are ready.
Now for the fun part. When you are ready to fruit the logs,
just submerge them in water, or water them with a sprinkler
(or rain), for at least 24 hours. Try not to use
chlorinated water for this. Spring, well, or rainwater is
best. I have heard of people using boiled tap water, but I
have never tried it. Once this is done, simply water them 2
or 3 times a day unless it rains. I like to fruit mine just
before a rain is expected. Moisture is very important, and
you really can’t have too much. Shade and temperature are
also very important. The ideal temperature for fruiting is
between 50 -70 degrees, although with the right amount of
shade and water I have produced at times when it was in the
high 80’s during the day. Freezing temperatures will not
work for obvious reasons.
Your mushrooms should start to be visible within a week if
all goes well. They can form in the holes where they were
drilled or wherever there are cracks or holes in the bark.
Keep them wet and wait until the mushroom is fully
developed. The cap should be opened and you should be able
to see the white gills underneath. Once this happens cut
them at the base of the stem, rinse and enjoy!
I
recommend letting your logs rest after each harvest for 4-8
weeks. During the dormancy period just leave them alone
like you did after inoculation. Then, repeat the process of
soaking and watering. This process can be repeated whenever
weather conditions permit. Logs can produce for as many as
3-5 years when cared for properly. Remember we are dealing
with Mother Nature here so be patient, and have fun!
About
Slugs
One of
the biggest problems I have had with producing logs is the
slug, or snail. They seem to love mushrooms as much as we
do and can really wreak havoc on a harvest. The best
solution I have come up with is to water my logs in a
different area from where they are stored. I move mine from
a watering spot after they have dried a little and keep
them there until they are ready to water again. The
moisture your logs need also draws the slugs. Sprinkling a
trail of salt around where you store the logs also helps.
John Whittemore,
Blues Hill Farm
192 Darl Ln. McMinnville, TN 37110
blueshillfarm46@yahooo.com