Shiitake - Log Kit

Are you ready to embark on a fascinating journey into the world of gourmet mushroom cultivation? Look no further than our premium Shiitake Log Growing Kit! Whether you're an experienced grower or a curious beginner, our kit provides everything you need to grow a bountiful harvest of delicious and nutritious shiitake mushrooms right in your own backyard.

Why Choose Shiitake Mushrooms?

1. Irresistible Flavor: Shiitake mushrooms are renowned for their rich, savory taste and meaty texture, making them a favorite among food enthusiasts worldwide. Elevate your culinary creations with the distinct umami flavor that shiitake mushrooms bring to dishes like stir-fries, soups, and risottos.

2. Immense Health Benefits: Besides their delectable taste, shiitake mushrooms offer a wealth of health benefits. They are a good source of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which may support your immune system, promote heart health, and contribute to overall well-being.

3. Culinary Versatility: Shiitake mushrooms are incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Enjoy them sautéed, grilled, roasted, or dried for longer storage. Their ability to complement various dishes makes them an essential ingredient in any gourmet cook's repertoire.

Why Choose Our Shiitake Log Growing Kit?

1. Simple and Hassle-Free: Our Shiitake Log Growing Kit is designed for ease and convenience. With clear, step-by-step instructions and all the necessary components included, you can effortlessly start your mushroom cultivation journey. No prior experience or specialized equipment required

2. Sustainable and Eco-Friendly: By choosing our Shiitake Log Growing Kit, you actively contribute to sustainable living. Shiitake cultivation on logs is a natural and eco-friendly method that requires minimal resources. Enjoy the satisfaction of growing your own food while reducing your ecological footprint.

3. Bountiful Harvests: Our carefully curated kit is designed to provide you with multiple harvests of fresh, flavorful shiitake mushrooms. Watch as your log produces delicious mushrooms year after year, ensuring you have a continuous supply of gourmet delights.

Order Your Shiitake Log Growing Kit Today!

Whats in this Kit:

• 30 Shiitake spawn dowels
• 60g soya wax
• 1 wax brush

What you will need:

• Fresh hardwood log (see suitable tree species below) - about 50-70cm long and 10cm - 15cm in diameter
• Drill with 8mm wood bit
• Hammer or mallet
• Drill stop collar (optional but helpful)
• Plastic bag or tarp to cover the log

Log Selection:

Selecting an appropriate log is crucial to the success of this kit. Choose a healthy log 50-70cm long and 10-15cm in diameter from a hardwood tree: Oak, Beech, Alder or Hornbeam are ideal, but Birch, Poplar and Willow will also work well. For help in identifying different tree species check out The Woodland Trust website or their handy Tree IDing app.

The age of the log is important too: The log must be freshly cut 2 – 6 weeks prior to inoculation. In the 2 weeks after cutting, the tree’s natural fungicides dissipate. 6 weeks after cutting, there is a higher chance that the log has already been exposed to other fungi, reducing the chance for successful cultivation.

Log Preparation:

After choosing a suitable log, prepare it for inoculation by removing any loose bark or debris from the log's surface but keep as much of the natural outer layer of the log as possible to promote the moisture retention.

Mark out the drill holes on the log where the dowels will be inserted. Space the holes 10-15cm apart in a diamond pattern. Drill 30 holes for each 50 – 70cm length of log. Using the drill with an 8 mm drill bit, drill the holes to a depth of approximately 5cm.

Inoculation:

Using clean hands take the dowel plugs and insert one into each hole. Use a hammer or mallet to tap the plugs gently until they are snugly inserted into the holes.

Place the soya wax in a heat proof bowl over a pan of hot water. Once melted, use the small foam brush to seal the dowels in the holes with wax. The wax seals the spawn in the log and prevents contamination from other fungi or pests. Use any remaining wax by applying a thin coat to seal each cut end of the log.

Growing Position:

Find a home for the log in a shady, sheltered and moist area. Raise the log off the ground and cover loosely with a plastic bag or tarp to create a moist and dark environment whilst also allowing some airflow. If doing more than one log you can stack them in a grid-like shape – two logs in each layer.

Be patient and observe: Mushroom cultivation takes time. It may take several months for the fungi to colonize the log. In 3 – 6 months, the colonisation can be observed as white rings on the cut ends of the log.

Mushroom Fruiting & Harvest:

Mushrooms typically appear naturally within 6 to 12 months. If colonisation can be seen at the ends of the log, it is possible to force the mushrooms to fruit by soaking the log in water overnight, draining and then stacking again. Keep an eye on the log and be patient with the process.

Once the mushrooms start to appear, they will take up to a week to reach full maturity, shitake mushrooms should be harvested before the caps flatten.  Harvest by cutting them from the log close to the surface. After harvesting, replace the log back in its shady and sheltered position for future crops.