MUSHROOM LOG CARE & MAINTENANCE
Congratulations!
You have purchased a hardwood log that has been inoculated with Shiitake mushroom mycelia! The white dots and holes in your log are the inoculation sites—and are likely to be where your first mushrooms sprout.
Step 1) Set up a home for your log
Your mushroom log needs to be kept out of direct sunlight, in a cool and well-ventilated spot. This can be natural shade (underneath trees, shrubs, etc.) or the log can be kept beneath a shade cloth, under a porch, behind a shed, or next to your garage. You only want Shiitake to grow—not mold!—so keep your log out of standing water and tilt it on an angle to let water drain easily. It’s good to keep the bottom of the log on the ground to allow the mycelium to grow into the soil for additional nutrients and water.
Step 2) Keep your log hydrated
Just like us, it’s important to keep your mushroom log hydrated. Most of the time, natural rainfall will keep the logs properly hydrated; but in times of low rainfall, water your log like you would your lawn or garden. Just don’t keep the bark continuously damp, or you may grow more than just Shiitake!
Step 3) Wait for your mushrooms or "force" fruiting
Your mushroom log will naturally fruit (produce mushrooms) both in the spring, when the air warms and rainfall triggers fruiting, and in the fall, when the air temperature begins to drop and rainfall is usually high. However, you can “force” fruiting any time between May and November! To do so:
- Soak the log in cool water for 12–24 hours
- Physically “shock” the log! This is traditionally done by beating on the log with a wooden club, but it can also be accomplished by dropping the end of the log onto a hard surface. Be careful not to damage the bark, as it’s a protective layer against pathogens and competitive fungi.
With proper care, your log should produce mushrooms for 2–3 years!
Step 4) Harvest!
The mushrooms will start as small buttons and will grow to full size in just 2–4 days, depending on temperature. Watch them carefully! When the Shiitake are 2–3 inches in diameter and their edges are still curled under, cut the stems as close to the log as you can. For fresh mushrooms, place them in a paper bag in the fridge immediately, and store them for up to 10 days. Or you can dry your mushrooms in a dehydrator and store them indefinitely.
Step 5) Long term log care
Once you have harvested Shiitake mushrooms, the log needs to “rest” to produce the energy to make more mushrooms. Follow Step 2 and wait 4–6 weeks, then you can shock your log again! Don’t shock more than 2 or 3 times per season to ensure you get mushrooms from your log over a few seasons. Your log is fine left outside over the winter, but try to limit direct sunlight.
Step 6) If things go wrong
Our logs are selected to maximize the likelihood of fruiting; however, if your log does not produce any mushrooms after 2 shocking attempts (Step 3), contact us for instructions, a replacement log, or a refund.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Are your trees sustainably harvested?
Yes! We pride ourselves on sustainable tree harvesting and felling practices. Each year we carefully select beech, maple, or ash trees that have healthy bark and few branches, and log them from dense stands on our farm to promote re-growth.
Q: The log I have has empty holes or missing inoculation plugs – should I be concerned?
The inoculation plugs may fall out (or even be taken by squirrels), but by the time the log reaches you, the Shiitake mycelium should have colonized most of the sapwood of the log. No need to worry about the loss of the inoculation plug!
Q: How can I be sure that the mushrooms on my log are Shiitake?
All of our mushroom logs are inoculated with Shiitake mycelium, and no other species of mushroom should grow. However, you can compared your mushrooms to images on our website and contact us if you are not sure.
Q: I’ve followed the instructions, but my log did not produce any mushrooms. What happened?
Some logs may fail to “take” and, despite proper care, may not produce mushrooms. We have specifically selected logs to prevent this from happening, but if your log fails to produce mushrooms, let us know and we will provide instructions, replace your log, or offer you a full refund.