by
Paul
Benhaimmushroom over its 5-8 year life depending on diameter. Try and
use 4-6" diameter of young trees.
Now we want to inoculate the logs. This is best done in the
winter months when the wood is not in leaf and all the sap is in the
log. You can use either 'dowel' or 'sawdust spawn' and drill in a
diamond pattern over the entire surface of the log. Dowels are
better for a few logs, a bag of sawdust spawn will inoculate 25
logs so is better for the larger ventures.
Slice or sandwich methods do not work with shiitake - they
are best used with Oyster mushrooms. Avoid using grain spawn
as it is quickly eaten by birds and slugs. The actual inoculation of
the logs is carried out by taping the dowels into the holes or by
using an 'inoculator' to press the sawdust spawn into the holes.
Seal the surface of the holes with hot wax (bees or cheese wax -
food safe) to keep m moisture and keep out weed iungi, slugs
worms etc.
Now you will need to place the logs in a shaded area in
the garden out of drying winds and direct sunlight. Make sure the
logs do not totally dry out. The Mycelium (spawn) will now run
through the logs and can be seen at the cut end as white areas in
line with the inoculation sights. After 12 to 18 months the white
mycelium changes colour to chocolate brown as the log matures.
At this time the mushrooms will start to appear naturally in
the Spring and Autumn or you can induce fruiting by 'shocking'. A
shock will increase moisture, drop the temperature, massage all
the parts -all the conditions you get in an autumn storm. The
shock is carried out by plunging the logs in cold water for 48
hours. After shocking you must then keep the humidity around the
log at about 85%. Now mushrooms will develop in 2 to 4 weeks