Growing shiitake on logs is one of the easiest ways to grow mushrooms outside. You need fresh hardwood logs, spawn, a drill, and wax. Here is how we would start.
1. Pick your logs
Use freshly cut hardwood, like oak, about 3 to 8 inches across and 3 to 4 feet long. Let them rest a couple of weeks after cutting, but do not let them dry out.
2. Drill the holes
Drill rows of holes down the log, a few inches apart, with rows staggered like a diamond pattern.
3. Fill the holes with spawn
Tap plug spawn into each hole with a hammer, or press sawdust spawn in with an inoculation tool.
4. Seal with wax
Cover every hole with melted wax to keep moisture in and other fungi out.
5. Wait and water
Stack the logs in a shady spot and keep them damp. Shiitake logs often take 6 to 12 months before the first flush, so be patient.
Watch it done
What we carry from North Spore
- Organic Shiitake Mushroom Plug Spawn – $22.00
- Mushroom Log Inoculation Drill Bit – $24.99
- Log Inoculation Sealing Wax – $3.50
- Sawdust Spawn Thumb Press Log Inoculation Tool – $49.99
- Sawdust Spawn Log Inoculation Trio of Tools – $99.99
- Organic Shiitake Mushroom Log Kit – $34.99
See all our mushroom growing supplies here: 4kbowen.com/s/mushroom-growing
More mushroom growing guides:
- Mushroom Growing for Small Farms and Homesteads
- How to Build a Wine Cap Mushroom Garden Bed
- How to Plant an Oyster Mushroom Starter Block
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