Welcome to the wonderful world of growing mushrooms!

You’re the proud owner of a mini log that’s been carefully inoculated with the organic mycelium of shiitake mushrooms by Overstory Farm in Chittenden, Vermont.

Much like a perennial plant, with the proper care, this mushroom log should fruit 1 to 3 small flushes of shiitake mushrooms each season for 1-2 years (or more!).  Here are a few things to keep in mind to help ensure your log remains healthy and productive.

Shade.

The most important way to care for your log is to keep it from drying out. A shaded area outdoors that receives 70% shade year-round is ideal. A north side of a building or under an evergreen tree works great. Agricultural shade cloth can be added over the log if needed but should allow for moisture. Prop the log up off the ground to keep it away from pests.

Moisture

Logs absorb moisture naturally from rainfall. Think about it like a low maintenance plant, it’s alive and needs water to survive. It should ideally receive an inch of precipitation a week. More is fine!

Fruiting Season

Once the weather shifts to above 50 degrees (Fahrenheit) at night, you may notice the log fruiting on its own. Small mushroom ‘pins’ will form on the outside of the bark which will grow full size within 5-10 days (depending on temperature and humidity). It’s important to keep a close eye out for pests during this growing period as critters, like slugs, enjoy nibbling on fresh mushrooms.

Force the Fruit

To encourage your log to grow mushrooms, use a force-fruiting method. Soak the log by submerging it under fresh, cold water overnight (10-12 hours). This should trigger a flush of mushrooms to emerge a few days after soaking and allows you to control the fruiting cycle at your own pace. Once a log is force fruited, it needs to rest 6-8 weeks before soaking again. Remember to wait to force fruit until nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees.

Off-Season

When temperatures get cold, keep your log outside in the shaded area and allow for it to go dormant. A blanket of snow (if you live in northern climates) naturally protects the log. Much like a garden, this is a time for the log to rest.

Retiring your mushroom log

After a couple of years, you’ll notice the log gets lighter and may produce less mushrooms as it begins to naturally decompose. At that time, you can retire your log in a compost pile or use it as mulch around the garden.

Remember, growing mushrooms on logs takes some planning and patience. The yields are fascinating and rewarding once you learn.

Happy mushrooming!