Mushroom Plugs - Caring for Your Logs

Start a Mushroom Garden This Season

Growing your own mushrooms can be a fascinating and rewarding addition to your garden. Whether you’re looking to cultivate shiitake, oyster, or other varieties, starting a mushroom garden is simpler than you might think. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of preparing, setting up, and maintaining a successful mushroom garden using logs or stumps as the growing medium.

Preparing Your Mushroom Logs

In our Mushroom Plugs video, Tricia demonstrated the process of selecting and inoculating logs with mushroom plugs. The preparation steps include:

1. Choosing Logs: Select freshly cut hardwood logs like oak, maple, or alder, as these are ideal for most mushroom varieties. Logs should be cut during the dormant season (winter) and used within a month for best results.
2. Inoculating Logs: Drill holes in the logs and insert mushroom plugs. Seal the plugs and the log ends with wax to prevent contamination and retain moisture.
3. Incubation Period: The logs require an incubation period of 6 to 18 months, depending on the fungus strain, log size, and environmental conditions. During this time, the fungus (mycelium) spreads through the sapwood, preparing the log to produce mushrooms.

photo from vermontmushrooms.com

Setting Up the Laying Yard

The laying yard is where your inoculated logs will incubate and develop. Selecting the right location is crucial for success:

1. Shady Area: Choose a location under conifers or use 80% shade fabric to protect the logs from direct sunlight.
2. Moisture Access: Ensure the area has access to water to keep the logs at an ideal moisture level of 35–55%.
3. Avoid Soil Contact: Place logs on cinder blocks, wooden pallets, or other logs to prevent soil contact, which can lead to contamination.

Log Arrangement

• Rick Stack or Crib Stack: Logs are crisscrossed to conserve space and moisture.
• Japanese Hillside Method: Ideal for steep landscapes, where logs are arranged to leverage natural slopes.

If using multiple mushroom varieties, keep logs of different species separate to avoid cross-species competition.

Maintaining Moisture Levels

Moisture is essential for the growth of mushroom mycelium, but balance is key:

• Moisture Monitoring: Logs should not drop below 25% moisture content, as this can kill the mycelium. In arid climates, water the logs using sprinklers or misters.
• Dry Periods: Allow the bark to dry periodically to prevent contamination by unwanted fungi.

Using a Reference Log

A reference log can help you track moisture levels. Label a representative log, weigh it, and inoculate it along with the others. Regularly weigh this log throughout the incubation period to estimate moisture levels.

For detailed guidance, refer to Producing Shiitake Mushrooms—A Guide for Small-Scale Outdoor Cultivation on Logs.

Waiting for Colonization

Shop Mycelium Running

After inoculating and setting up the laying yard, patience becomes the gardener’s best tool. Here’s what to expect:

1. Incubation Time: Logs take 6 to 18 months to fully colonize, depending on their size, wood type, and mushroom species.
2. Monitoring Progress: Check the ends of the logs for "mottling," a visual signal that mycelium colonization is underway. When 65% of the log’s cut end shows mottling, it’s ready to produce mushrooms.

Why Start a Mushroom Garden?

1. Sustainable Food Source: Growing mushrooms at home reduces reliance on store-bought varieties and ensures a fresh, organic harvest.
2. Low-Maintenance Gardening: Once set up, mushroom gardens require minimal upkeep compared to traditional vegetable gardens.
3. Nutritional Value: Mushrooms are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making them a healthy addition to any diet.
4. Ecological Benefits: Mushroom cultivation promotes biodiversity by recycling organic material and supporting soil health.

Tips for Success

1. Choose the Right Logs: Hardwood logs are ideal for most mushrooms, but softer woods like poplar can be used for faster-growing varieties.
2. Monitor Moisture Regularly: Proper hydration is critical during incubation. Use a reference log to stay on track.
3. Avoid Contamination: Keep logs off the soil and allow the bark to dry periodically to prevent unwanted fungi.
4. Stay Patient: Mushroom gardening requires time, but the rewards are well worth the wait.

Harvesting Your Mushrooms

When the logs are ready to produce fruit, the mushrooms will emerge from the surface. Harvest them by gently twisting or cutting at the base. Be careful not to damage the log, as this can affect future yields.

The Joy of Mushroom Gardening

Starting a mushroom garden is a rewarding way to grow your own delicious and nutritious fungi. With proper setup, maintenance, and a bit of patience, you can enjoy a thriving mushroom garden that will provide years of bountiful harvests.

So why wait? Gather your logs, inoculate them with mushroom plugs, and get started on this exciting gardening journey today!