Organic Shiitake - Plug Spawn

Lentinula edodes var. 3770

For more information, we recommend reading our guide:"Growing on logs"

How do you inoculate logs with plug spawn ?

The best times to inoculate logs are in the fall, winter, and early spring, before the sap begins to flow.

Note: The main threat to this cultivation method is drought. Therefore, cover the wood with a tarp or a cover if necessary to keep the logs moist, especially during incubation.

When it comes to wood species, the following are recommended: maple, native oak, linden, chestnut, and hornbeam.

Since shiitake mycelium feeds primarily on the sapwood, it is generally recommended to use logs with a diameter of 8 to 15 cm. Larger diameters may also work, but they make handling more difficult.

Required equipment

• A log or piece of wood that has been recently cut (no more than 3 months old). Avoid softwoods. Most hardwoods are suitable. Contact us if you would like more specific information. Log diameter: 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 that is 1 m long and 20 cm wide requires 20 × 2.5 = 50 dowels.
• Drill and drill bit 8–9 mm
• Hammer
• Optional: vegetable wax, beeswax, paraffin, or green clay to cover the holes.

Instructions

* Store your ankles in the refrigerator until you're ready to use them (for up to 3 months);

* Wash your hands before touching the mycelium to maximize your chances of success;

* Drill holes in your log. The holes should be slightly deeper than the height of the plug. Space the holes about 10 cm apart. A 1-meter-long log requires about 50 dowels;

* Insert the dowels into the holes using a hammer. The dowels should not protrude from the holes;

* Cover with wax. The wax protects the mycelium from insects and diseases, as well as from drying out. If you don’t have wax, 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 cause contamination. For example, you can place them on a pallet covered with a tarp. In hot weather, occasionally pour a watering can of water over the logs to prevent them from drying out. During this initial incubation phase of 12 to 18 months, the logs can be stacked.  Shiitake mushrooms generally appear in the spring and fall. They do not like dry conditions. To encourage new growth, you can soak your logs overnight in cool water, which should trigger the appearance of new mushrooms within 5 to 15 days.

* Harvest and enjoy your crop. A log grown under the right conditions can produce mushrooms for 3 to 5 years. 

For more information, we recommend reading our guide: "Growing on logs"

Notes

The best times to inoculate logs are in the fall, winter, and early spring, before the sap begins to rise.

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

We prepare our bags by weight, so there may be slight variations from the indicated quantity.

We inoculate the logs with a mixture of spores and sawdust. It is therefore normal to find some sawdust mixed in with the logs. This remaining sawdust can also serve as inoculum.

All of our products are certified organic under the "BE-BIO-01" standard.

 Our mycelia are produced under laboratory conditions, which ensures the purity of the strains and optimal quality.

For bulk orders, please contact us for a quote: contact@lamycosphere.com