Shiitake mushrooms may be ready for harvest in 7 to 10 days from shocking, longer if cool weather. Most yield is in the second and third years, with one quarter to one half pound per log typical.
Shiitake grow in groups on the decaying wood of deciduous trees , particularly shii and other chinquapins, chestnut, oak, maple, beech, sweetgum, poplar, hornbeam, ironwood, and mulberry. Its natural distribution includes warm and moist climates in Southeast Asia. Where do you find shiitake mushrooms?
How to grow shiitake mushrooms indoors?
Growing shiitake mushrooms indoors is an easy alternative to the traditional home garden . With just a bag of sawdust and a dark room, you can begin reducing your grocery bill and carbon footprint without ever going outside!
Shiitake mushrooms have been grown for thousands of years in Asia , originally found growing in the wild in mountainous regions. Today, it is the second most grown mushroom in the world, next to the common button mushroom. They are good in soups, stews, Asian and pasta dishes, with seafood or poultry.
Even if you’re going to be growing your shiitake outside on a wood chip bed, starting off growing your shiitake on sawdust in bags will produce a larger amount of stronger mycelium to add to your bed . This provides a better chance of survival and hopefully producing more mushrooms.
The chosen answer was shiitake mushrooms produce 3 to 5 flushes of fresh mushrooms on average when grown on sawdust or grain.
So, what is the best wood for shiitake mushrooms?
Shiitakes do best on oak , but maple, beech, and ironwood will all work as well. If you’re using logs to grow your shiitake mushrooms, then the fresher they are, the better.
What is shiitake spawn and how does it work?
Shiitake spawn comes in several different forms depending on how you’re planning on growing your shiitake mushrooms . Hobbyist growers tend to use inoculated wooden dowels, which are also called plug spawn. If you’re using logs, these dowels can be hammered into holes that you drill to give your shiitake mushrooms a place to grow.
While reading we ran into the query “How do you get shiitake mushroom spawn?”.
Some articles claimed shiitake mushroom spawn can be ordered from a specialty mushroom farm online or through the mail (see below for sources). Those with a mycological touch can even raise their own. Spawn generally comes either impregnated in wooden dowel plugs, in liquid form, or mixed with sawdust.