Growing Mushrooms from plugs in logs...

13 years ago

Leu Gardens plant sale is an annual event that I look forward to each year. It's great to see the gardens as well as the thousands of plants and trinkets for sale. I wish that I took my camera like Silvia did. Silvia, the planted clock on the hill certainly was an eye catcher! It was nice that you posted that photo.

There was a vendor that I hadn't noticed in the past. He was selling wooden plugs inoculated with mushroom spawn. There were 100 plugs to a bag. He had shiitake, several varieties of oyster, and medicinal mushroom plugs available. I couldn't resist trying to grow something new. lol.

I went home with some phoenix oyster and shiitake plugs. Put hubby to work last weekend. Had him cut a young oak tree from our woods, then cut it into 4 foot lengths. He drilled about 50 small holes per log, then hammered them in. They are laying on the ground in a shady spot under the oaks.

Well, I would like to know if anyone else is growing their own mushrooms? How well is it working out? What advice do you have?

Christine

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Comments (6)

whgille
13 years ago
Hi Christine

I know nothing about mushroom growing but it looks like a nice hobby.
I did not go to the Leu this year, I was at Echo. Cheryl went for me and she took the pictures that she liked. And bought some flowers and herbs and filled the planter that my brother gave me. I asked her if she saw anybody that we know like last year we saw you and Miranda, she said no that she was busy shopping. :)

Let us know about the results of the mushroom growing, shiitake are one of my favorite.

Silvia
sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
13 years ago
That's really neat about the mushroom plugs. There was an active thread on mushroom growing on the Brugmansia thread not too long ago. If you go over and search that thread on the mushroom topic, it was pretty interesting. I've always wanted to try growing mushrooms. Let us know how they progress.
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I have some shiitake logs going right now, they haven't produced yet but look like they will (it can take a year or longer). If you kept them in the fridge they should be fine, you don't have anything to lose by trying except the time it takes you to drill the holes and hammer in the plugs. Good luck with the morels, we are waiting not so patiently over here as well!
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Greetings, I've been growing Shiitakes at home for quite a few years so I'll add my 2 cents. Most any hardwood (not conifer) will work but there are some advantages and disadvantages to consider. Denser wood will give you more bang for the buck because dense wood logs have more food for the mycelium, so over the producing life of a log you will get more mushrooms. Typically, fruit tree wood has a lot of heartwood compared to sapwood and that is not recommended. Some woods are not very dense and you can find lists of these woods that, again, are not recommended. Some lists have questionable entries re: useable or not useable. Look for the wood types that are frequently listed. I used Sweet Gum once and I think it made the mushrooms sweeter...wishful thinking? If you are able to do so, weigh the logs when they are fresh so you have a reference for the future. As I recall it's best to keep the logs at about 60% of their original moisture content. They will handle considerable variance but too soaked or too dry could limit their production. If you are guestimating moisture content, just don't let the logs dry out. Occasional deep watering is better than frequent light watering...just like in the garden...and for the same reason: you want to water the mycelium deep in the log not the weeds (other spores and contaminates) on top. Keep the logs in the light but out of direct sunlight. All this info is available on-line; my main purpose here is to let folks know about wood choices: most deciduous trees will work, some are a better pay-off than others. One more item, and this is important: you should not use just-cut fresh wood. The tree needs to be rid of it's natural anti-fungal capabilities and that takes 3-4 weeks. So fresh wood, but not brand new. Cut it in the early Spring before all that sugar food goes up into the buds. Here's some of last year's harvest. These logs are getting old; I just cut a tall Oregon Ash today...not super dense, but free.
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I bought shitake and pearl oyster plugs about a year ago and innoculated some recently fallen logs last Oct. About a month ago, I saw two mushrooms (shitake, I think) and expected my first fruiting. However, after returning home from vacation, I noticed an increase in some sort of fungus on the outside of the logs and no mushroom fruiting:(. I've attached photos in hopes someone may be able to identify the fungus on the outside and/or offer suggestions for my logs.
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cfldoc 9b Lake County
13 years ago
We grew shiitakes in oak logs when we were in PA. I recall waiting a short time after the logs were cut before plugging them, the logs were not completely fresh. They lasted for several years before the logs were depleted. In late Winter we would soak the logs under water for a day or two to saturate them and stimulate a flush of mushrooms. I don't know how they would do here....can't remember what their temperature preference is. Good luck.
happy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
Original Author
13 years ago
Silvia - I saw a number of people that I know during the Leu Gardens plant sale last week but I didn't see Cheryl. Miranda had to work. I went with a gardening friend. I really wanted to go to ECHO Farm Day too but I didn't want to go alone. Hubby had a work meeting he had to attend. Hopefully, next year.

sultry - Thanks for the heads-up about the mushroom thread. I'll check it out soon.

cfldoc - The mushroom plug vendor sells spawn varieties (strains) that grow well here in Florida. The logs don't have to be fresh cut but they can't be very old either. Reason is, as the log ages other mushroom varieties may get into the log. Some could be poisonous.

I'm told that the shiitake mushroom logs can be soaked for about 24 hours five weeks after harvest to encourage a new flush of growth. The logs will only produce a certain amount of mushrooms so soaking will use up the supply faster. That's fine with me. If this works out well, we will probably grow many more. As for the oyster, I'm told not to soak them because they can't be forced. They will produce when they are ready. I'll keep you posted.

Christine
jwahlton
13 years ago
This is interesting. I've thought about trying mushrooms too
organic_elizabeth_b
13 years ago
Hi Christine,

I've been wondering about growing mushrooms but it seems all of the kits are super expensive. I am very keen to hear how the plugs go. Where they terribly expensive? Do you happen to have information or web site?

Any chance you'll be at Silvia's party and want to swap some plugs for something else?

Very exciting!

Elizabeth

Growing Mushrooms from plugs in logs...

Comments (6)

whgille

sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)

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Growing Mushrooms from plugs in logs...

Comments (6)

whgille

sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)

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happy_fl_gardener; 9a, near DeLand
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