Shiitake mushrooms are delicious and gourmet, but they can also be expensive. With a little bit of love, labor, and dedication, you can grow them right in your backyard. Learn how to inoculate hardwood logs with mushroom plugs and start cultivating your own mushrooms at home.
Preparing Your Logs
The first step is to find suitable logs. The best logs are oak, but shiitake mushrooms are happy on other hardwoods like gum, maple, elm, and alder. Avoid conifers and aromatic woods.
Tools and Materials for Inoculation
- A high-speed drill with a 5/16" drill bit
- Cheese wax or beeswax
- Wax pot and a natural bristle brush
- Metal turkey baster (optional)
- Aluminum tags
- A hammer and a camp stove or hot plate
Inoculating the Logs
- Drill holes 4 to 6 inches apart and about 2 inches deep in a diamond pattern.
- Tap the mushroom plugs into the holes using a hammer.
- Heat the wax to 260°F and brush a light wax cap over each hole to seal it.
- Brush wax on the ends of the logs in dry climates to conserve moisture.
- Attach a metal label to each log with the date of inoculation and the strain of fungi.
Placing and Caring for Your Logs
Place your logs in a shaded area protected from the wind. Use a log stacking method designed for mushrooms.
Harvesting Your Shiitake Mushrooms
With good care, your shiitake mushrooms should begin to fruit within six to twelve months.
Grow your own mushrooms and grow organic for life!
