Growing shiitake mushrooms is more challenging than growing other mushroom varieties. However, the extra work is worth it because shiitake yields more mushrooms for you to harvest. With a few shiitake logs, a shady spot, and mushroom starter plugs, you can quickly grow shiitake mushrooms. Here are our tips for growing shiitake mushrooms at home, either DIY or using a kit.
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Learn how to grow mushrooms at home with our recommended Best Mushroom Starter Kits.
What Are Shiitake Mushrooms?
Shiitake is the second most grown mushroom in the world after button mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms are becoming increasingly popular because they are flavorful, buttery, and meaty.
Shiitakes are low in calories but rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They provide healthful compounds.
This variety of mushrooms is good in stews, soups, and pasta dishes. They are also good with poultry and sea dishes. Shiitake stems are tough to eat but good in broths.
Most mushrooms grow on compost or manure-based potting medium. However, shiitake mushrooms grow on logs. Shiitake grows best on logs from hardwood trees, specifically oak and sugar maple.
Growing mushrooms on logs require freshly cut logs within one day to three weeks. Mushrooms don’t compete well with wild fungi that could be growing on old logs.
Shiitake mushrooms have a lot of health benefits. They contain compounds that boost the immune system, fight cancer tumors, and also support heart health.
Shiitake mushrooms will yield three to five flushes on fresh when you grow them on grain or sawdust. They will give you fresh mushrooms after five weeks for four to six years if you grow them from mushroom logs.
Learn more tips on growing mushrooms at home:
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Best Shiitake Mushroom Growing Kit
Root Mushroom Farm
This shiitake mushroom growing kit contains a ready-to-fruit mushroom log, a humidity tent, a spray bottle, and an instruction book.
The kit is ready to start when received, but you can store it in a refrigerator for a few days.
It is the perfect introduction to growing shiitake mushrooms at home. It also provides an excellent opportunity to learn.
Root Shiitake Mushroom Starter Kit
This kit offers an excellent opportunity to learn how to grow shiitake mushrooms. You don’t need any extra equipment to start growing shiitake mushrooms.
The kit comes with a ready-to-fruit shiitake log, a spray bottle, a humidity tent, and detailed instructions.
12″ Shiitake Mushroom Grow Log
The shiitake mushroom log is hand-cut and inoculated with shiitake mushroom spores. Mushroom spores are placed in visible drill holes and covered in cheese wax.
You can place the logs upright or lay them horizontally. The logs have a metal plate with the dates of vaccination.
Tips For Growing Shiitake Mushrooms At Home
Before you begin growing shiitake mushrooms, you will need to decide what substrate you will use. Substrates are where mushrooms get all their nutrients when growing. A substrate is equivalent to the soil in plants.
Picking The Right Substrate
Shiitake mushrooms are choosier on what they will grow as compared to other varieties. Growing shiitake mushrooms requires a wood-based growing medium. The options are limited to growing on logs or blocks of sawdust.
The fresher the logs, the better. If the logs are old, other types of fungi could start growing in them first. Avoid logs that show signs of fungi or mold.
If you are growing shiitake mushrooms indoors, you would prefer other media such as sawdust or pellets. Make sure you have growing bags or some form of container that will hold your substrate well.
Make sure you sterilize your substrate. Some substrates that shiitake mushrooms grow on do not need sterilization, such as fresh logs.
You will have to add supplements if you are using straw or grain to grow shiitakes mushrooms. Straw and grain have fewer nutrients as compared to wood-based growing.
Propagating Shiitake Mushrooms
If you are growing mushrooms on logs, you will need to drill holes on the logs. The holes should be slightly larger than your mushroom spawn. Spawn is to mushrooms what seedlings are to plants.
Drill the holes an inch deep and every six inches down the length of the log. Rotate the log and grill another row.
Alternate the hole so that there is space for each spawn. The holes should cover the entire circumference of the log.
Fill each hole with spawn and seal using wax.
If you are growing shiitake mushrooms on sawdust, straw, or grain, ensure that the substrate is not too dry or too wet. Slightly squeezing your substrate should let a few drops of water come out.
Mix your mushroom spawn and substrate. It is easier to mix in a big container and transfer it into the growing bags. Close the bags with tape or rubber bands.
Incubation
Shiitake mushrooms need a more extended incubation period than other mushrooms. If you are using mushroom logs, you need 6 to 12 months of incubation. Ensure the logs are in the shade and off the ground.
Water your shiitake logs for about 10 minutes once a week if you live in a moist climate. You don’t need to water the logs if you have heavy rains.
Water the logs twice a week for 10 minutes or more if you live in a dry climate.
When using growing bags, store them in a dark place at room temperature. Bags don’t need watering or upkeep.
Fruiting
You will need to initiate your shiitake logs into producing fruit. Initiate at between 9 and 12 months. But, shiitake logs might sometimes fruit on their own.
Soak the logs in clean water for 24 hours. Take them back to a shady area and put them in a vertical position.
If you are using bags, open the bags and place a block of spawn in a humid environment. Mist you spawn block to keep it moist and healthy.
Harvesting
Use a knife to cut at the bottom of the stem. Twisting can have adverse effects on future mushrooms. You will have four to six years of fresh mushrooms before replacing the logs.
Force a new flush of mushrooms every five to six weeks by soaking the logs in water for 24 hours.
Can You Grow Shiitake Hydroponic Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms are suitable for growing hydroponically. You grow shiitake hydroponic mushrooms directly in water. You mix the water with a nutrient solution so that the mushrooms get all their nutrients from the water.
Growing shiitake mushrooms is more challenging than growing other types of mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms require more incubation time.
However, shiitake mushrooms yield more hence rewarding you more. A single shiitake log can last between four to six years while harvesting every five to six weeks. Don’t be afraid of the challenging bit, and you will reap benefits in the end.
FAQs – Growing Shiitake Mushrooms
This varies with how you are going. Shiitake mushroom kits can take as little as 3 months for the mushrooms to colonize. More “natural” methods like growing on a log, can take over 6 months.
The most common way to grow shiitake mushrooms at home is by using a shiitake mushroom growing kit. These kits provide everything you need to get started including detailed instructions. Alternatively, using a mushroom growing log is another way to grow shiitake mushrooms. Each has their advantages and disadvantage.
Unlike oyster mushrooms which grow more quickly, growing shiitake mushrooms takes more patience. The incubation period for shiitake mushrooms is longer compared to other mushrooms. They are also more dependent on proper growing conditions.