Organic Maïtake Mushroom Plug Spawn

Grifola frondosa, Clustered polypore, Hen of the woods

Maitake (Grifola frondosa) is an edible mushroom prized for its delicate taste and pleasant texture. In addition to its culinary qualities, it has been used for centuries in Chinese and Japanese traditions. This mushroom is particularly rich in natural compounds such as beta-glucans, notably the D-Fraction and the MD-Fraction, which attract interest for their bioactive properties. Today, maitake is also appreciated in various food products and extracts, offering a versatile way to enjoy its many benefits.

Attention, the fruiting of this mushroom is relatively more complex than that of most other cultivated mushrooms and is therefore more suited to experienced mushroom growers.

For more information, we recommend reading our guide: "Cultivating on Logs"

How to inoculate logs with mycelium on wooden dowels?

Necessary equipment

• Log or recently cut wood block (max 3 months). Avoid softwoods. Most hardwoods are suitable. Contact us if you want more specific information. Diameter of the log: between 10 and 25 cm. Length: between 50 and 150 cm.
• Mycelium on dowels: For a length of 1 m, multiply the diameter of a log by 2.5. Example: a log 1 m long and 20 cm wide requires 20 x 2.5 = 50 dowels.
• Drill and bit of 8-9 mm
• Hammer
• Optional: vegetable wax, beeswax, paraffin, or green clay to cover the holes.

Instructions

• Wash your hands before touching the mycelium to maximize the chances of success.
• Make the holes in your log. The holes should be slightly deeper than the height of the dowel. Space the holes about 10 cm apart. A 1 m long log requires about 50 dowels.
• Insert the anchors into the holes using a hammer. The anchors should not protrude from the hole.
• Cover with wax. Wax is used to protect the mycelium from insects and diseases as well as from drying out. Alternatively, you can also use paraffin, cheese wax, or green clay.

• Wait: Place your logs in a shaded area sheltered from the wind. Avoid direct contact with the ground, which could attract small insects and contamination. For example, you can place them on a pallet covered with a tarp. In case of heat, occasionally pour a watering can of water over the logs to prevent them from drying out.
• Harvest and enjoy your production. A log made under good conditions can produce mushrooms for 3 to 5 years.

For more information, we recommend reading our guide: "Cultivating on Logs"

Remarks

The optimal periods to inoculate the logs are autumn, winter, and early spring, before the sap rises.

The main enemy of this culture is drought: cover the wood with a tarp or a veil if necessary to maintain the moisture of the logs, especially during incubation.

We prepare our bags by weight, so there may be slight variations compared to the indicated number.

We inoculate the dowels with a mixture of grain spawn and wood shavings. It is therefore normal to have some sawdust mixed with the dowels. This remaining sawdust can also serve as inoculum.

Our commitment to quality:

We produce our mycelia under laboratory conditions, which ensures the purity of the varieties and optimal quality.

We produce our myceliums in a 100% organic way and all our products are certified "BE-BIO-01, Agriculture Belgium" by CERTISYS.