This was great, thanks, I been tryin to find out about "mushroom boxes grow your own" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Ever heard of - Heenyan Mushroom Organifiction - (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now ) ? Ive heard some decent things about it and my partner got great success with it.
here's a few suggestions to try pick the best variety - there are many available. grow them in the right environment - some eg oyster muchrooms like cool humid areas and can be put outdoors (I discovered these and why they work on Gregs Mushroom Grower website )
Yes. Truthly mycologists on RUclips are hard to find. *North spore are the real deal. A true mushroom cultivation company. They grow many gourmet products and sell many aswell (fresh grown by them /grow @ home boxes).* All the other RUclips mycologists I see usually on here, are either people with a RUclipsrs production team, and is all scripted. Most mycologist vids on RUclips, are just paid actors, or some random kid in a bedroom with his 1st illegal grow kit. For USA, I would say *NorthSpore* is one of the Holy Grails. I wish there were companies like u in UK most are extremely limited. A new farm in my city is in process of being built from the ground up (literally building it now). It's going to the the city's 1st urban mushroom farm. I'm hoping to get a job there maybe. To help them progress and for my mycology learning to progress at the same time. With luck.
can i use coconut tree log here in Asia since we don't have the type of ideal logs you have......thank you for answering....very nice presentation and codos to you guys.....
Was debating whether or not to buy Shiitake plugs from your website but had a few questions. Then found this video and everything was answered and got me more excited than I was before! This video was the defining factor for my purchase so thank you!!!
Damn, this is a next level guide. It's artistic while still being super informative and clarifying. Keep this up, definitely something visionary happening with you guys.
You guys are the most amazing channel in that you actually respond to and engage with your youtube audience. You have answered a couple questions of mine in the past as well. I am working on my first grow now. Hopefully it turns out!
Sterilized oak is best - check out more info here: northspore.com/blogs/the-black-trumpet/how-to-find-identify-and-cook-chicken-of-the-woods-mushrooms#:~:text=How%20to%20grow%20chicken%20of%20the%20woods
For all logs, we recommend inoculating in late winter / early spring or summer - fall but this depends on the climate where you live. If you're in place with warmer temps, you can inoculate year-round. Don't forget to sterilize your log segments beforehand when doing chicken of the woods!
This video was so rad. Your tools are probably pricey but I’ll spend the money just because you put so much energy into this video. Super cool. Following.
If it's been a couple weeks without rainfall give the logs a soak overnight. You don't want constant moisture or irrigation on your logs as it will weaken the bark over time. What you want is for the moisture content inside of the log to stay relatively constant. If the ends of your log start to crack or if your logs feel like they've lost a lot of weight, those are good indicators that your log should get some soak time!
Great video! It’s concise, enjoyable to watch and has all the right information in just enough detail. Thanks for taking the time to make and post this.
Great video! Humidity is definitely not an issue in Florida. Is there a way to sanitize logs prior to inoculation? I think some of the logs in my inventory are good, but the high humidity levels might result in a good environment for other fungi to take hold early.
Actually yes! For several species like maitake and chicken of the woods, we recommend sterilizing or pasteurizing logs first. You'd need special bags and a pressure cooker or steamer. That's pretty involved. If your wood is fresh and you're working with easier species, sanitizing shouldn't be an issue!
From internet: Shiitake mushrooms are traditionally grown outdoors on seasoned hardwood logs - preferably oak, although maple, birch, poplar, aspen, beech, and other species have also been used successfully. fir is actually softwood. It burns quicker and faster. Good stove starter, and hardwood for longer-lasting fire.
Interesting video, I can see the benefits of that drill bit when growing is a big hobby or a business. Nice Opinel knife, I like the thin blade for slicing.
What about covering the logs with straw or a tarp or something during incubation to keep mositure retention? Then i can see like a long pole with some ratchets to raise and lower the logs for fruiting and winter season lowering
With or without a tarp can work! A tarp during colonization can be ideal as long as it’s not getting too hot under there. Keep in mind that with a tarp, moisture can’t get in either, which could be an issue. Even something like burlap (what I use) can be very helpful. As far as using a ratchet or pulley system for logs, I recommend your logs not be so big that this is necessary.
Zone 7a transition, hot dry summers, mild winters, lots of rain. What about tarps? Ok to cover innoculated logs on the ground with tarps until they are 1 to 2 years old, or cover them during the dry parts of the seasons maybe? To tarp, or not to tarp?
I often see pre-spawned mushroom logs sold in gardening centers in Japan. Today, for example, our local center had small diameter oak logs with shitake plugs. They sell them for about US $13.00. The logs, however, are of a small diameter; perhaps 2-3 inches. Hole spacing and log length are almost identical to the log you are inoculating. What are you thoughts on these items; are they worth it?
Hi Jon. What about central Florida. It can get between 85 and 105 during the summer here. We have oaks with many other trees on our property but no real pond or lake to throw them in. What do your recommend as far as hydration for the logs? Also, can they be grown on live standing trees or do they have to be logs? Great video! Thanks.
Plenty of people grow mushrooms on logs in Florida, the natural humidity (I imagine) will help keep the logs health. You still want to focus on having plenty of shade. You want freshly cut hardwood, not standing trees. The logs only need to be soaked if there is prolonged drought or they have gone over a year and a half without producing any mushrooms.
Time to try it out! Would it help by pouring boiling water on the wood then letting it cool and inserting plugs? Im ocd about all of this so the outdoor method is crazy to me but it is natural outside every day haha thanks for your help through the past years. I'm a different person now. Use to hate my life and self until you all taugh me how cultivation works and treated myself.
Wow, I'm so glad mushrooms have helped you! They've certainly been good to us. I'm excited to try a new recipe this week with some dried morels! No need to use boiling water on your logs. Just make sure the logs are as healthy and fresh as possible.
Logs can take up to a year or more to start flushing so that aspect of the process was not available to film at this time! We have a lot of great log photos on our Instagram , however!
Question....some believe that a cut log should sit for a week or so before inoculation. What say you ? Thank You! ( Mushroom hobbiest in Western New York)
There are different schools of thought on this subject. It certainly won't hurt to hold off a week or two, but we've had success using freshly cut wood too!
Thanks for Sharing! I have about 250 inoculated logs. I'm located on the coast in northern California so moisture is no issue. This March will be coming up on 2 years and my stacks are going off. Shitakes are easily as big as my palms something as big as my hands. . Two Questions: You didn't mention a lag time between cutting the tree down and inoculation. Is this a myth I have come across? second question: I have always used plug spawn. Its faster in my opinion. Have you noticed a difference in output when using plug spawn vs using sawdust spawn? Thanks!
Great video! Just about to try this myself! After cutting the logs how long should I wait before starting to inoculate? Can you begin immediately? I have a number of birch on the property along with oak. Can I use any birch or should I stick with the oak for shiitakes? Thanks
Just found your channel and totally inspired by everything I've seen so far and now mushroom obsessed! Thank you! This video in particular has some killer music! Can you share what it is?
@@NorthSpore Hey! Thanks for your reply! Oh well.... Thanks for including in going forward! Just got my mushrooms in the mail. So excited to grow them this year! Thank you for all you do.
Greetings from Oklahoma. It is hard to find shiitake mushrooms in my area. Locally grown, fresh, organic shiitake's is almost unheard of. I am going to do a video review of your tools and spawn. I used to pick morels in the wild but I lived farther north back then. It will be amazing to grow them in my yard! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Greetings! Thanks for watching the video and reviewing the tools and spawn. I wish morels were more common in Maine.. though we've encountered them a few times here!
The rule of thumb for shiitake logs is 2lb per log per year, though I've had years with significantly more than that, and years that were a bit light. A successful flush will have large shiitakes over the majority of the log.
Nice! We want to inoculate this year, in Pa. we ordered lots of bags last year, but won’t order so many, the extra unopened ones fruited and crapped out. Should we just stick to lions mane & shiitake to start? Our old woodpile is so ready to go.
You're kind of talking apples and oranges since one way is outside and the other inside. Logs are better imo because they last for years, require less plastic and one bag of sawdust can do something like 30 logs.
USDA Zones for North and Central Florida are 8b to 9a. That is where I live, anything different I should do to propagate mushrooms down here? Thank you and you folks are university level instructors.
Sorry for not getting to this sooner! You have a very long growing season, so act accordingly. This means that you can cut and inoculate in the winter. Also, just make sure things are very well shaded and protected.
Have you guys ever used gray birch for shiitake inoculation? Betula populifolia. I am surrounded by them on my property. Very few paper birch. Wanna cut my trees soon. Thks for any advise. Cheers.
i was gonna try this as a sideline on the olympic penninsula (same climate as northern Japan) But Lowell Dietz says in " mushrooms of the pacific NW {Minute 37:30}" that it is near impossible. What are the secrets to get them to fruit ? do the 3. gen. japanese mush farmers know somthing that we dont?
You could certainly try to grow shiitakes on logs in your climate! It's most important to use freshly cut, healthy logs. Shiitakes like a variety or hardwoods like oaks and maples for example! Fall is a great time to harvest wood and get to inoculating!
Hi Jeremy, the cool thing about mushrooms logs is that they will fruit for many years. The rule of thumb is 1 year per inch of diameter of the log. That said, we've heard of shiitake logs fruiting for a decade. It really depends on how well they are taken care of. Damage to the outer bark or letting them dry out are death knells for logs. If they've got a couple years without flushing mushrooms they are probably done (though it's hard to make a concrete rule about this). Once they've stopped producing they'll be much lighter in weight and probably in pretty rough shape. You can treat them like camp fire wood or let them biodegrade in the woods.
I live in Montana and its february now. Just had a storm that blew over trees and has given me some elm wood to try this on. Can I assume that I can inoculate them now and place in my root cellar till early spring, say may to bring them outdoors ? Love the video, very informative.
Elm is great for oyster mushrooms but not recommended for Shiitake. You can always start logs inside and bring them out after the last freeze or simply manage some insulating layers on them stacked close to the ground.
Yes, you can be sure that up here in Maine when it's -15f, the logs are frozen solid along with al water and mycelium. The shiitakes can still survive!
Is there a better time of the year to start this process - new log production? Also, if you don't have a tree to fell - where can one purchase tree logs? We successfully grew mushrooms years ago from a tree that came down on anther property - and it has been 5+ years - and want to start growing some again.
It’s going to be 2 weeks this Friday when I cut my logs. Do I need to soak them in water for 24 hrs before I inaculate them, just spray water on them or I don’t need to do anything before I start?
Wow, that was awesome! I learnt so much! Thank you, guys. I'm almost at the end of the video. My question is, what type of wax are you using? I think this might be important... Thanks for letting us know if it matters or not. Oh and one other question: did you guys develop those specialty tools, like the drill bit and the filler tube for the sawdust inoculation?
Logs should be inoculated within a week or two of cutting. This allows the cells in the tree to die but is not long enough for the log to dry out or for other competitor fungi to become established. A month would be about the longest reasonable stretch of time between cutting and inoculating.
Yes, you want to seal the plugs but you don't have to reseal them. Studies have shown that beeswax, paraffin and vegetable-based waxes are biodegradable.
I have logs that were damaged when felled and moved with machinery. Will this be a problem, should I cover those areas with wax and then they will be fine?
hi there, I live right next to the woods and can imagine to put the logs along the back of my fence in the woods. It's end of Autumn now. A few questions : 1) can I start now and leave it out ? 2) And do I need to stack them, I have a very long fence :-D, as far as I'm concerned they can line the fence on the ground. There are however some green growing in near my fence which I actually always cut back in Spring and Autumn. 3) I guess pine tree logs won't work ? Also do the stumps need to be fresh or is it better when they a few weeks untouched? 4) how long does it take to see fruiting please? Thanks for any help. Love the vid, really informative. Sorry about the many questions ... just trying to be thorough. Kind regards,
Happy to help! You could inoculate logs in the fall/winter if you don't experience freezing temperatures but you'll want it to be warm enough for the logs to colonize at first, and then they can be overwintered next year. Stacking them helps maintain moisture and then you could stand them up against your fence for fruiting. Pine and coniferous trees in general aren't conducive to most species but we have a great FAQ (northspore.com/pages/spawn-faq-1) that matches species with tree and difficulty. Fruiting can take up to a year or more, but it really depends on log size, environment and species as they all vary.
Can you use a kiln used for logs meant for building with to sterilize it for chicken of the woods? Or does that kill all the food source for the fungus too?
You can leave your log to rest for up to 1 month though it isn't necessary. There are different schools of thought on this. Some log growers swear by aging their logs for 1 or 2 weeks before inoculation. We've always cut and inoculated the same day with great results!
We tend to recommend inoculating logs as soon as possible. Cornell University conducted research regarding the timing by which logs are felled and inoculated. The results seem to indicate that inoculating sooner results in higher production overall.
Hi Larry, it all depends on the species of mushrooms you're trying to inoculate. Shiitake is known to work best in oak, but also can grow in Sugar Maples, Beech trees, and Birch to name a few. Some species of mushrooms have far more specific types of wood they like to grow in. Northspore.com has a whole list of mushrooms and their suitable tree species!
I got those tools and inoculated Maple logs with Oyster spawn. My first go and used up exactly 1lb and 1lb of Wax. I look like I know what I'm doing but still a bit nervous about these shipping delays. The Spawn also got stuck in costumes for quite some time, (no fault of the supplier). When I finally got it the bag was already super colonized and getting rock hard on the top. I don't know what to expect from all this. I used some dark Beeswax so I wont be able to see if its going to work either. Wish me luck!
I read that you are supposed to wait a week after cutting your logs down to start inoculating them. I waited a week, inoculated with plug spawn, but didn't get any fruiting. Do you advise to inoculate immediately after cutting the tree down?
This is definitely debated, but it my experience inoculating asap is just fine. It almost always end up being a couple weeks before I can inoculate my logs anyway. There's info out there that shows it might be advantageous for certain tree species to rest a little before use though. Either way, this probably isn't the reason your logs failed.
@@NorthSpore yeah I'm not sure why these didn't fruit. I inoculated the logs with a few different species of plugs. I only had access to sugar maple that time, and it's the first time that I have ever had no success inoculating logs.
Can you inoculate with grain spawn? And can you inoculate in fall? If so, can logs sit over the winter for the next season for an earlier yield? Thanks!
Sawdust spawn is recommended for log inoculations. Fall is a great time to start but you might want to store them in a heated structure or under insulating tarps or blankets if your first frost is coming up.
I have a question. I'm looking to grow mushrooms for cooking. with doing a process like this (midwest climate) do I need to worry about the mushrooms shooting spores, and attacking my garden, or neighbors lawns because of wind?
In this video, it looks like you're using Shiitake, do most mushrooms take to this method? Or would some varieties not be suitable. Thank you for the great video!
We just use a paraffin wax, but other natural waxes can be used. Yes, you could have them in a greenhouse, but you have to make sure they don't dry out.
I haven't read anything about growing zones for these mushrooms, so I am assuming it must be fine to grow in a zone 4? Last frost here is in May. Should I keep my logs moist in my cellar (around 55 degrees to 60ish Fahrenheit ) until I can place outdoors in May? Thank You!!!!! :)
Sorry for the delay :) That sounds perfect! The mushrooms will grow when conditions present themselves if the log is colonized. Most mushrooms fruit between 60-75F.
Can you use tap water for soaking the logs? A video I was watching previously recommended against it. I only have one rain water butt and I am currently soaking wood chips to ferment in that water butt. I have oak (not ideal dimensions - a lot shorter and chunkier than your logs) and that was felled around 3 weeks ago. I would like some help to make the decision between the humidity loss over that period of time and the possibility that the chlorine in the tap water might kill the mycelium when it gets in contact. What do you reckon...?
Tap water should be fine for soaking your logs. I've done it many times in my backyard with success. Definitely err on the side of hydration with tap water, not letting the log dry out.
The rule of thumb is that a shiitake log will produce for one year per inch of diameter of the log. So a 5 inch diameter log will produce on average for 5 years.
Question: My first Shiitake mushrooms are just sprouting and I am terribly excited, but I am worried about the moisture level in the logs and fear they could dry out quickly. Could someone provide some info about the proper or best humidity for the mushrooms to thrive please? I am misting the logs regularly, but don't know if that is good or bad. Any help would be greatly appreciated. They are outdoors in the shade.
Sometimes it helps to elevate them or even just move them to a different location to prevent pests. You can also use diatomaceous earth to deter pests, although it gets washed off with every watering.
I hear reishi mushrooms are great for cancer. Is it better to take capsules or the mushroom itself? What are some of your recommendations as for capsules brands.. thank you to anyone who answered
Reishi is considered one of the mushrooms of immortality! We recommend taking products made from the fruiting body rather than mycelium in either tincture or capsule form. We will be offering capsules in the future! Please take a look at our blog post about fruiting bodies vs mycelium here: northspore.com/blogs/the-black-trumpet/mushroom-extracts-the-mycelium-vs-fruiting-body-dispute
you want to keep them someplace as shady and cool as possible. If there is a drought give your logs a soak overnight! The heat won't kill them, but letting them dry out will!
You can inoculate in the fall, but if possible you should incubate your logs indoors or in a greenhouse for a month or two if you have really cold winters. This will give them a head start on incubating before going dormant through the winter. After they have established logs will overwinter fine.
Great video, I'm in the UK and don't have the right or ability to cut down trees here but would love to use this method for small scale gardening projects. How fresh do the logs need to be? Could I source unseasoned wood that's maybe been drying for up to a year and rehydrate it? Also, can you use smaller logs?
You don't always need to cut down a full tree. Do you have services that trim boughs off trees in the UK? They are often great sources of freshly cut hardwood. Best practice is to use freshly cut wood. You *may* be ale to rehydrate and inoculate wood with success, but mushroom growing is really about removing variables, not adding them.. It may be worth giving it a shot on a small scale to see how it works but I wouldn't rely on that method. You can definitely use smaller logs, but they won't produce for as long and are more prone to drying out.
Morels grow on soil, not logs. They are a very complex mushroom to cultivate and very few have figured it out reliably. We sell the spawn for people to experiment with, but truthfully, we haven't landed on a trusted method.
How many holes per log do you drill? I bought shiitake plugs but they are not cheap, like 100 holes per log will cost more than $20 per log, plus bee wax which is not free either. At least I have some free oak trees.
Great video and products. Any suggestions how to protect them from squirrels and raccoons? We have several in our bush, where I hope to stack my logs, and hear they both like mushrooms. Looking for a way to protect my investment of time and $$. Thank you.
Yes, humans aren't the only ones who like mushrooms! While they don't typically devastate a crop, they can certainly cause some problems for you! There isn't a quick and easy solution for protecting the logs against critters. Perhaps constructing a chicken wire or mesh housing around the logs would be beneficial?
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I love how you're an actual mycologist and know what you're talking about
Thanks! It's great to have a great team with hard scientific / mycological backgrounds!
This was great, thanks, I been tryin to find out about "mushroom boxes grow your own" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Ever heard of - Heenyan Mushroom Organifiction - (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now ) ? Ive heard some decent things about it and my partner got great success with it.
here's a few suggestions to try
pick the best variety - there are many available.
grow them in the right environment - some eg oyster muchrooms like cool humid areas and can be put outdoors
(I discovered these and why they work on Gregs Mushroom Grower website )
Yes. Truthly mycologists on RUclips are hard to find.
*North spore are the real deal. A true mushroom cultivation company. They grow many gourmet products and sell many aswell (fresh grown by them /grow @ home boxes).*
All the other RUclips mycologists I see usually on here, are either people with a RUclipsrs production team, and is all scripted. Most mycologist vids on RUclips, are just paid actors, or some random kid in a bedroom with his 1st illegal grow kit.
For USA, I would say *NorthSpore* is one of the Holy Grails. I wish there were companies like u in UK most are extremely limited. A new farm in my city is in process of being built from the ground up (literally building it now). It's going to the the city's 1st urban mushroom farm. I'm hoping to get a job there maybe. To help them progress and for my mycology learning to progress at the same time. With luck.
What type of tree are you cutting for logs?
can i use coconut tree log here in Asia since we don't have the type of ideal logs you have......thank you for answering....very nice presentation and codos to you guys.....
Oh. The people who sold me the mushrooms are going to teach me how to grow them! Sweet as!!
Was debating whether or not to buy Shiitake plugs from your website but had a few questions. Then found this video and everything was answered and got me more excited than I was before! This video was the defining factor for my purchase so thank you!!!
Damn, this is a next level guide. It's artistic while still being super informative and clarifying. Keep this up, definitely something visionary happening with you guys.
Thanks! We're trying to put significant energy into developing educational materials and cool mushroom video content. I appreciate the kind words!
You guys are the most amazing channel in that you actually respond to and engage with your youtube audience. You have answered a couple questions of mine in the past as well. I am working on my first grow now. Hopefully it turns out!
Thank you so much for your support! Reach out anytime.
@NorthSpore How long can you keep harvesting off of the logs in ideal conditions?
Thank you, thank you! I have been wanting to do this and didn’t know how! Hugs and love from Texas!
Wisdom is way more important than knowledge. Looks like you have both good job.
My wife and I are SO excited to start doing this. We have a perfect woodlot for it.
I hope you were able to start your mushroom patch! If not, hope you're planning one for this year!
How it's going now you still have it??
Good luck sir
How did it go
Any updates on this?
Wow 6 mins in, that angle grinder drill is savage! Thanks for this guide, looking forward to doing this one day!
Reach out with questions anytime!
Hi, awesome video. Is it better to use freshly cut 'green' logs or old rotting humid logs? And do they need to be oak for shittake mushrooms ?
Fresh cut! Oak is best for shiitake, but you can sue many other things. Check this out: northspore.com/pages/grow-mushrooms-on-logs-videos
When should I store wood that has been inoculated with chicken of the woods caps?
Once fully colonized, they should be put in the fridge. If you bought them, they're already colonized and should be kept refrigerated.
Is there any videos of you inoculating chicken of the woods?
We're working on a COW project now, so stay tuned for that!
When should I inoculate chicken of the woods mushrooms in Illinois?
Sterilized oak is best - check out more info here: northspore.com/blogs/the-black-trumpet/how-to-find-identify-and-cook-chicken-of-the-woods-mushrooms#:~:text=How%20to%20grow%20chicken%20of%20the%20woods
When am I supposed to inoculate chicken of the wood mushroom caps into wood?
And what months should I
Inoculate including unsuggested months?
For all logs, we recommend inoculating in late winter / early spring or summer - fall but this depends on the climate where you live. If you're in place with warmer temps, you can inoculate year-round. Don't forget to sterilize your log segments beforehand when doing chicken of the woods!
Is there any tips on when to inoculate chicken of the woods in Illinois?
Is there any tips on when to inoculate chicken of the woods in Illinois?
Omg my old teacher! I dropped out of Jon’s class cause it was too hard haha, but it sparked my love for mushrooms
This video was so rad. Your tools are probably pricey but I’ll spend the money just because you put so much energy into this video. Super cool. Following.
Thanks for your support!
How do you like them?
I had no idea that people had mushroom farms, but this makes me very happy because I love eating mushrooms
You should give mushroom cultivation a shot, it's easier than you'd think!
mushroom videos always have the best music
Thanks! Epidemic Sound is great for sourcing music for videos
Ikr
i love that intro song
Music videos have the best music
Thank you for the video!!
I wonder how often you "irrigate" the logs and how do you know when to?
If it's been a couple weeks without rainfall give the logs a soak overnight. You don't want constant moisture or irrigation on your logs as it will weaken the bark over time. What you want is for the moisture content inside of the log to stay relatively constant. If the ends of your log start to crack or if your logs feel like they've lost a lot of weight, those are good indicators that your log should get some soak time!
Great video! It’s concise, enjoyable to watch and has all the right information in just enough detail. Thanks for taking the time to make and post this.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great guide, is it possible to use the leftovers from saw dust fruiting blocks as an inoculation source in a log?
You could! It might not have as high a success rate as fresh spawn, but what a great way to get the most from a block!
Great video! Humidity is definitely not an issue in Florida. Is there a way to sanitize logs prior to inoculation? I think some of the logs in my inventory are good, but the high humidity levels might result in a good environment for other fungi to take hold early.
Actually yes! For several species like maitake and chicken of the woods, we recommend sterilizing or pasteurizing logs first. You'd need special bags and a pressure cooker or steamer. That's pretty involved. If your wood is fresh and you're working with easier species, sanitizing shouldn't be an issue!
So right now in may would not be good to cut trees for this?
Just bought your plug kit via Amazon. Super excited. Need to find suitable logs now…
Does it have to be an oak log?
Will it work on Fir, pine or birch?
at least i saw some seller/re-seller/producer that warned against using his products on pine
From internet:
Shiitake mushrooms are traditionally grown outdoors on seasoned hardwood logs - preferably oak, although maple, birch, poplar, aspen, beech, and other species have also been used successfully.
fir is actually softwood. It burns quicker and faster. Good stove starter, and hardwood for longer-lasting fire.
Pine and coniferous trees are not conducive for most edible mushroom species. Shiitake, however, does grow on birch!
Interesting video, I can see the benefits of that drill bit when growing is a big hobby or a business. Nice Opinel knife, I like the thin blade for slicing.
What about covering the logs with straw or a tarp or something during incubation to keep mositure retention? Then i can see like a long pole with some ratchets to raise and lower the logs for fruiting and winter season lowering
With or without a tarp can work! A tarp during colonization can be ideal as long as it’s not getting too hot under there. Keep in mind that with a tarp, moisture can’t get in either, which could be an issue. Even something like burlap (what I use) can be very helpful. As far as using a ratchet or pulley system for logs, I recommend your logs not be so big that this is necessary.
Zone 7a transition, hot dry summers, mild winters, lots of rain. What about tarps? Ok to cover innoculated logs on the ground with tarps until they are 1 to 2 years old, or cover them during the dry parts of the seasons maybe? To tarp, or not to tarp?
Yeah, you should be fine to have them overwinter there.
I often see pre-spawned mushroom logs sold in gardening centers in Japan. Today, for example, our local center had small diameter oak logs with shitake plugs. They sell them for about US $13.00. The logs, however, are of a small diameter; perhaps 2-3 inches. Hole spacing and log length are almost identical to the log you are inoculating.
What are you thoughts on these items; are they worth it?
Hi Jon. What about central Florida. It can get between 85 and 105 during the summer here. We have oaks with many other trees on our property but no real pond or lake to throw them in. What do your recommend as far as hydration for the logs? Also, can they be grown on live standing trees or do they have to be logs? Great video! Thanks.
Plenty of people grow mushrooms on logs in Florida, the natural humidity (I imagine) will help keep the logs health. You still want to focus on having plenty of shade. You want freshly cut hardwood, not standing trees. The logs only need to be soaked if there is prolonged drought or they have gone over a year and a half without producing any mushrooms.
Time to try it out! Would it help by pouring boiling water on the wood then letting it cool and inserting plugs? Im ocd about all of this so the outdoor method is crazy to me but it is natural outside every day haha thanks for your help through the past years. I'm a different person now. Use to hate my life and self until you all taugh me how cultivation works and treated myself.
Wow, I'm so glad mushrooms have helped you! They've certainly been good to us. I'm excited to try a new recipe this week with some dried morels! No need to use boiling water on your logs. Just make sure the logs are as healthy and fresh as possible.
Is there no video where I can see these fruit? Love this would like to see the whole process :)
Logs can take up to a year or more to start flushing so that aspect of the process was not available to film at this time! We have a lot of great log photos on our Instagram , however!
Question....some believe that a cut log should sit for a week or so before inoculation. What say you ? Thank You! ( Mushroom hobbiest in Western New York)
There are different schools of thought on this subject. It certainly won't hurt to hold off a week or two, but we've had success using freshly cut wood too!
Thanks for Sharing! I have about 250 inoculated logs. I'm located on the coast in northern California so moisture is no issue. This March will be coming up on 2 years and my stacks are going off. Shitakes are easily as big as my palms something as big as my hands. . Two Questions: You didn't mention a lag time between cutting the tree down and inoculation. Is this a myth I have come across? second question: I have always used plug spawn. Its faster in my opinion. Have you noticed a difference in output when using plug spawn vs using sawdust spawn? Thanks!
Great video!
Just about to try this myself!
After cutting the logs how long should I wait before starting to inoculate? Can you begin immediately?
I have a number of birch on the property along with oak. Can I use any birch or should I stick with the oak for shiitakes?
Thanks
Check this out: northspore.com/pages/log-mushroom-cultivation-faq
Just found your channel and totally inspired by everything I've seen so far and now mushroom obsessed! Thank you! This video in particular has some killer music! Can you share what it is?
You know something I've asked and couldn't find out. I've suggested that future videos include the music in the descriptions. Sorry!
@@NorthSpore Hey! Thanks for your reply! Oh well.... Thanks for including in going forward! Just got my mushrooms in the mail. So excited to grow them this year! Thank you for all you do.
@@NorthSpore I'm sorry I didn't think of this before! I asked Google to ID the song: Andreas Boldt "Gentle Impulsions".
Greetings from Oklahoma. It is hard to find shiitake mushrooms in my area. Locally grown, fresh, organic shiitake's is almost unheard of. I am going to do a video review of your tools and spawn. I used to pick morels in the wild but I lived farther north back then. It will be amazing to grow them in my yard! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Greetings! Thanks for watching the video and reviewing the tools and spawn. I wish morels were more common in Maine.. though we've encountered them a few times here!
Thank you for the Video! Can you estimate how much you can harvest after force fruiting a log?
The rule of thumb for shiitake logs is 2lb per log per year, though I've had years with significantly more than that, and years that were a bit light. A successful flush will have large shiitakes over the majority of the log.
North Spore Thank you! 🌷
Nice! We want to inoculate this year, in Pa. we ordered lots of bags last year, but won’t order so many, the extra unopened ones fruited and crapped out. Should we just stick to lions mane & shiitake to start? Our old woodpile is so ready to go.
Hi there! We do only recommend growing on fresh cut healthy logs! I would suggest cutting some new ones if you are planning to inoculate this season!
What are the advantages to colonizing a log like this as opposed to spreading the sawdust block to more sawdust blocks.
You're kind of talking apples and oranges since one way is outside and the other inside. Logs are better imo because they last for years, require less plastic and one bag of sawdust can do something like 30 logs.
USDA Zones for North and Central Florida are 8b to 9a. That is where I live, anything different I should do to propagate mushrooms down here? Thank you and you folks are university level instructors.
Sorry for not getting to this sooner! You have a very long growing season, so act accordingly. This means that you can cut and inoculate in the winter. Also, just make sure things are very well shaded and protected.
Have you guys ever used gray birch for shiitake inoculation? Betula populifolia. I am surrounded by them on my property. Very few paper birch. Wanna cut my trees soon. Thks for any advise. Cheers.
They work!
Cool.
So shiitake can be planted in fresh wood ???
Shiitake must be inoculated in fresh wood!
@@NorthSpore Hi, thank you. End What about oyster mushrooms?
What's this "wax" that you used to coat the logs? Candle wax? Care to give me a link where I can buy some?
You can use lots of things, but we use this: northspore.com/collections/log-inoculation-tools/products/log-sealing-wax
@@NorthSpore Okay, thanks!
i was gonna try this as a sideline on the olympic penninsula (same climate as northern Japan) But Lowell Dietz says in " mushrooms of the pacific NW {Minute 37:30}" that it is near impossible. What are the secrets to get them to fruit ? do the 3. gen. japanese mush farmers know somthing that we dont?
You could certainly try to grow shiitakes on logs in your climate! It's most important to use freshly cut, healthy logs. Shiitakes like a variety or hardwoods like oaks and maples for example! Fall is a great time to harvest wood and get to inoculating!
@@NorthSpore thank you, there are a lot of Alders which hopefully work too.
What do you do with the logs once they're finished fruiting? And how do you know they have finished fruiting?
Hi Jeremy, the cool thing about mushrooms logs is that they will fruit for many years. The rule of thumb is 1 year per inch of diameter of the log. That said, we've heard of shiitake logs fruiting for a decade. It really depends on how well they are taken care of. Damage to the outer bark or letting them dry out are death knells for logs. If they've got a couple years without flushing mushrooms they are probably done (though it's hard to make a concrete rule about this). Once they've stopped producing they'll be much lighter in weight and probably in pretty rough shape. You can treat them like camp fire wood or let them biodegrade in the woods.
I live in Montana and its february now. Just had a storm that blew over trees and has given me some elm wood to try this on. Can I assume that I can inoculate them now and place in my root cellar till early spring, say may to bring them outdoors ? Love the video, very informative.
Elm is great for oyster mushrooms but not recommended for Shiitake. You can always start logs inside and bring them out after the last freeze or simply manage some insulating layers on them stacked close to the ground.
VERY NICE VIDEO
wouldn't the shitaki mycelia freeze during winter?
Yes, you can be sure that up here in Maine when it's -15f, the logs are frozen solid along with al water and mycelium. The shiitakes can still survive!
@@NorthSporethanks for the response. I cannot inoculate them when it is below zero, right? Even though I have a greenhouse for them.
Is there a better time of the year to start this process - new log production? Also, if you don't have a tree to fell - where can one purchase tree logs? We successfully grew mushrooms years ago from a tree that came down on anther property - and it has been 5+ years - and want to start growing some again.
We recommend talking to a local tree service. They often have logs or know of where to source them
An awesome demonstration! I’ve tried, and failed... I smell success with this method! 😊 Thank you for sharing.
Reach out with questions anytime.
After overhead cost what is the formula for profit...does it depend on type of mushrooms ?
It's going to depend on the species, your market and other factors. Very tough to say much else.
Super interesting. I'm building a food and medicine forest with a strong fungi component in York. Loving your videos. Thank you.
Thanks for your support! Reach out with any questions you have along the way!
@@NorthSpore let me know if you want to do any classes on my land. 😁
If I live in hot & humid country . Do I need to seal each hole with the wax too?
It would be a good idea as it also helps to keep critters and contaminant fungi out of your inoculation points!
Faster with the angle grinder attachment yes, but the faster rpms can cause burning inside the holes which is not good for the spore correct?
I've never heard of this being an issue.
It’s going to be 2 weeks this Friday when I cut my logs. Do I need to soak them in water for 24 hrs before I inaculate them, just spray water on them or I don’t need to do anything before I start?
Sorry we missed this. Inoculate asap, no need to soak!
Wow, that was awesome! I learnt so much! Thank you, guys. I'm almost at the end of the video. My question is, what type of wax are you using? I think this might be important... Thanks for letting us know if it matters or not. Oh and one other question: did you guys develop those specialty tools, like the drill bit and the filler tube for the sawdust inoculation?
A clear food-grade paraffin wax ideal for sealing holes in inoculated logs. We sourced the tools for our different types of spawn!
Is it best to let the logs rest for a while after cutting down the tree before inoculating, or cut and inoculate right away?
Logs should be inoculated within a week or two of cutting. This allows the cells in the tree to die but is not long enough for the log to dry out or for other competitor fungi to become established. A month would be about the longest reasonable stretch of time between cutting and inoculating.
Really informative 👏🏻. Awesome experience seeing this video. What kinda wax we can use ?
We used food grade paraffin wax (aka Cheese Wax). Bees wax also works. If the wax is too brittle you can add a little mineral oil to soften it up.
@@NorthSpore Thanks for sharing the details 😊
Do I have to seal the spores with wax? Is the paraffin wax that you use biodegradable? If the wax degrades do I have to reseal the spores?
Yes, you want to seal the plugs but you don't have to reseal them. Studies have shown that beeswax, paraffin and vegetable-based waxes are biodegradable.
I have logs that were damaged when felled and moved with machinery. Will this be a problem, should I cover those areas with wax and then they will be fine?
Hmm, you may want to seal those areas with wax as the bark naturally acts as insulation to keep moisture in,
@@NorthSpore ok thank you!
Did you write a book on mycelium? I read one a few years ago, so good. Thank you for this walk through.
We haven't written a book... yet! Thanks for watching the video and good luck with any mushroom projects you have in your future!
hi there, I live right next to the woods and can imagine to put the logs along the back of my fence in the woods. It's end of Autumn now. A few questions : 1) can I start now and leave it out ?
2) And do I need to stack them, I have a very long fence :-D, as far as I'm concerned they can line the fence on the ground. There are however some green growing in near my fence which I actually always cut back in Spring and Autumn.
3) I guess pine tree logs won't work ? Also do the stumps need to be fresh or is it better when they a few weeks untouched?
4) how long does it take to see fruiting please?
Thanks for any help. Love the vid, really informative. Sorry about the many questions ... just trying to be thorough. Kind regards,
Happy to help! You could inoculate logs in the fall/winter if you don't experience freezing temperatures but you'll want it to be warm enough for the logs to colonize at first, and then they can be overwintered next year. Stacking them helps maintain moisture and then you could stand them up against your fence for fruiting. Pine and coniferous trees in general aren't conducive to most species but we have a great FAQ (northspore.com/pages/spawn-faq-1) that matches species with tree and difficulty. Fruiting can take up to a year or more, but it really depends on log size, environment and species as they all vary.
Can you use a kiln used for logs meant for building with to sterilize it for chicken of the woods? Or does that kill all the food source for the fungus too?
The kiln would dry the wood out way too much I think. You need to be able to retain moisture.
Another question you didn't answer or if you did I missed it. Did you let the log rest before inoculating it? Or cut and go?
You can leave your log to rest for up to 1 month though it isn't necessary. There are different schools of thought on this. Some log growers swear by aging their logs for 1 or 2 weeks before inoculation. We've always cut and inoculated the same day with great results!
Can you simply water a seeded log periodically to keep it hydrated?
Or do you have to soak the entire log?
Keeping is well hydrated is key and all that's needed for some species. Shiitake responds super well to the soak.
So you don’t wait to drill into the log for the anti bacteria stuff to stop working in the tree?
We tend to recommend inoculating logs as soon as possible. Cornell University conducted research regarding the timing by which logs are felled and inoculated. The results seem to indicate that inoculating sooner results in higher production overall.
Thank you for sharing this. One question though, do the logs have to be oak? Or would any hardwood work?
Hi Larry, it all depends on the species of mushrooms you're trying to inoculate. Shiitake is known to work best in oak, but also can grow in Sugar Maples, Beech trees, and Birch to name a few. Some species of mushrooms have far more specific types of wood they like to grow in. Northspore.com has a whole list of mushrooms and their suitable tree species!
My area had a major storm (oregon zone 8b) can I plug logs now in winter? I should I collect the wood and wait to plug until spring?
Sorry for the delay. You can probably inoculate now!
Once you inoculate do you have to do it again after you’ve gotten harvests?
Nope, the fungus lives in the log and can produce for multiple years, perhaps 4-8.
Awesome! Does it make a difference, the type of tree for the log as far as results?
Yes, is does: northspore.com/pages/grow-mushrooms-on-logs-videos
I got those tools and inoculated Maple logs with Oyster spawn. My first go and used up exactly 1lb and 1lb of Wax. I look like I know what I'm doing but still a bit nervous about these shipping delays. The Spawn also got stuck in costumes for quite some time, (no fault of the supplier). When I finally got it the bag was already super colonized and getting rock hard on the top. I don't know what to expect from all this. I used some dark Beeswax so I wont be able to see if its going to work either. Wish me luck!
Wishing you the best of luck with your logs! It all sounds good on our end, that your plugs were healthy and strong. Reach out with questions anytime!
What kind of sawdust are you using? And what is the name of that special drill bit? Do you have links to the tools you use?
We are using shiitake sawdust spawn:northspore.com/products/shiitake-sawdust-spawn
Here is a link to the tools: northspore.com/collections/tools
I read that you are supposed to wait a week after cutting your logs down to start inoculating them. I waited a week, inoculated with plug spawn, but didn't get any fruiting. Do you advise to inoculate immediately after cutting the tree down?
This is definitely debated, but it my experience inoculating asap is just fine. It almost always end up being a couple weeks before I can inoculate my logs anyway. There's info out there that shows it might be advantageous for certain tree species to rest a little before use though. Either way, this probably isn't the reason your logs failed.
@@NorthSpore yeah I'm not sure why these didn't fruit. I inoculated the logs with a few different species of plugs. I only had access to sugar maple that time, and it's the first time that I have ever had no success inoculating logs.
Can you inoculate with grain spawn? And can you inoculate in fall? If so, can logs sit over the winter for the next season for an earlier yield? Thanks!
Sawdust spawn is recommended for log inoculations. Fall is a great time to start but you might want to store them in a heated structure or under insulating tarps or blankets if your first frost is coming up.
I have a question. I'm looking to grow mushrooms for cooking. with doing a process like this (midwest climate) do I need to worry about the mushrooms shooting spores, and attacking my garden, or neighbors lawns because of wind?
No. Mushroom spores are ubiquitous anyways, nothing you do growing mushrooms should negatively effect your lawn or garden.
I'm using poplar I felled in early April for lion's mane, only because that's what materials I have. Any recommendations?
That should work it just hasn't been widely used! Stack them off the ground like firewood during colonization.
@@NorthSpore Thanks
In this video, it looks like you're using Shiitake, do most mushrooms take to this method? Or would some varieties not be suitable. Thank you for the great video!
Most mushrooms do work with this method, but shiitake is vastly superior.
What wax do you use and do you have to leave them outside or can I keep them in my greenhouse
We just use a paraffin wax, but other natural waxes can be used. Yes, you could have them in a greenhouse, but you have to make sure they don't dry out.
Got ours in. Thanx a bunch. I didnt see your how too before i bought the spores but i still got then from north spore. We will see how they do
good luck with your project!
Nice video! I have lyons mane and shiitake spore but oak trees are hard to come by where I live. Do you think I would have any luck with ash logs?
I live in southeast Tennessee, would now be a good time to cut logs and inoculate them for growing Shiitake mushrooms?
Sorry we missed this! The answer was yes.
I haven't read anything about growing zones for these mushrooms, so I am assuming it must be fine to grow in a zone 4? Last frost here is in May. Should I keep my logs moist in my cellar (around 55 degrees to 60ish Fahrenheit ) until I can place outdoors in May? Thank You!!!!! :)
Sorry for the delay :) That sounds perfect! The mushrooms will grow when conditions present themselves if the log is colonized. Most mushrooms fruit between 60-75F.
Can you use tap water for soaking the logs? A video I was watching previously recommended against it. I only have one rain water butt and I am currently soaking wood chips to ferment in that water butt. I have oak (not ideal dimensions - a lot shorter and chunkier than your logs) and that was felled around 3 weeks ago. I would like some help to make the decision between the humidity loss over that period of time and the possibility that the chlorine in the tap water might kill the mycelium when it gets in contact. What do you reckon...?
Tap water should be fine for soaking your logs. I've done it many times in my backyard with success. Definitely err on the side of hydration with tap water, not letting the log dry out.
How much fruit does this technique give?? And how long do the logs last?
Or will they just continue to fruit?
The rule of thumb is that a shiitake log will produce for one year per inch of diameter of the log. So a 5 inch diameter log will produce on average for 5 years.
If using a hand drill how deep do you drill?
Thanks for the video, very well done!
The drill bits have a stopper for proper depth!
@@NorthSpore what's the proper depth
Question: My first Shiitake mushrooms are just sprouting and I am terribly excited, but I am worried about the moisture level in the logs and fear they could dry out quickly. Could someone provide some info about the proper or best humidity for the mushrooms to thrive please? I am misting the logs regularly, but don't know if that is good or bad. Any help would be greatly appreciated. They are outdoors in the shade.
Hey there! We recommend hydrating them as much as you would your garden.
@@NorthSpore Thank you!
Hi, awesome vid. How do you protect mushrooms from snails. I have a few logs and living at the forest I have hard time protecting the harvest.
Sometimes it helps to elevate them or even just move them to a different location to prevent pests. You can also use diatomaceous earth to deter pests, although it gets washed off with every watering.
I hear reishi mushrooms are great for cancer. Is it better to take capsules or the mushroom itself? What are some of your recommendations as for capsules brands.. thank you to anyone who answered
Reishi is considered one of the mushrooms of immortality! We recommend taking products made from the fruiting body rather than mycelium in either tincture or capsule form. We will be offering capsules in the future! Please take a look at our blog post about fruiting bodies vs mycelium here: northspore.com/blogs/the-black-trumpet/mushroom-extracts-the-mycelium-vs-fruiting-body-dispute
Dumb question come summer time how do you persever the logs from. The heat?
you want to keep them someplace as shady and cool as possible. If there is a drought give your logs a soak overnight! The heat won't kill them, but letting them dry out will!
Cannot wait to get my fruiting bag. Would love to do this but I live in NYC so would be hard for me.
Hope you have fun!
We have lots of Cottonwood and walnuts are any of them good for growing shitakes??
Cottonwood is good for oysters and chestnut! I'm not entirely sure about walnut, but I'd give oyster and shiitake a go.
If I were to inoculate in the fall, could I leave them to inoculate outdoors over the winter? Or will they die off?
You can inoculate in the fall, but if possible you should incubate your logs indoors or in a greenhouse for a month or two if you have really cold winters. This will give them a head start on incubating before going dormant through the winter. After they have established logs will overwinter fine.
@@NorthSporeFantastic! Thanks for the info!
Great video, I'm in the UK and don't have the right or ability to cut down trees here but would love to use this method for small scale gardening projects. How fresh do the logs need to be? Could I source unseasoned wood that's maybe been drying for up to a year and rehydrate it? Also, can you use smaller logs?
You don't always need to cut down a full tree. Do you have services that trim boughs off trees in the UK? They are often great sources of freshly cut hardwood. Best practice is to use freshly cut wood. You *may* be ale to rehydrate and inoculate wood with success, but mushroom growing is really about removing variables, not adding them.. It may be worth giving it a shot on a small scale to see how it works but I wouldn't rely on that method. You can definitely use smaller logs, but they won't produce for as long and are more prone to drying out.
Can you do this with morel mushrooms or do you have another way of doing morels
Morels grow on soil, not logs. They are a very complex mushroom to cultivate and very few have figured it out reliably. We sell the spawn for people to experiment with, but truthfully, we haven't landed on a trusted method.
Can you also grow magic mushroom in logs or is it onky specific breeds?
You cannot grow magic mushrooms in logs.
How many holes per log do you drill? I bought shiitake plugs but they are not cheap, like 100 holes per log will cost more than $20 per log, plus bee wax which is not free either. At least I have some free oak trees.
Hey there! It really depends on the size. 100 plugs is good for approximately 1-2 logs so 50-100 holes per log.
Great video and products. Any suggestions how to protect them from squirrels and raccoons? We have several in our bush, where I hope to stack my logs, and hear they both like mushrooms. Looking for a way to protect my investment of time and $$. Thank you.
Yes, humans aren't the only ones who like mushrooms! While they don't typically devastate a crop, they can certainly cause some problems for you! There isn't a quick and easy solution for protecting the logs against critters. Perhaps constructing a chicken wire or mesh housing around the logs would be beneficial?
So... I Don’t have a whole Lotta oak trees but I do have a whole bunch of black walnut trees...
would this method be practical with a black walnut?
Lion's Mane mushrooms are the only species I'm aware of that do well on Black Walnut!
Great video! Where did you get that sawhorse/log stand?
Thank you! It is an old one we found laying around the Mill we started at.