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FAQ (frequently asked questions) on growing edible mushrooms

The following are some answers to frequently answered questions on growing mushrooms. we plan to extend this page from time to time. if you can't find an answer to your question, please feel free to contact us via eMail.

  1. Inoculated plugs or grain spawn: Which is better?
  2. How long does the mushroom spawn keep? How should it be stored?
  3. When is the best time of year for inoculating logs?
  4. Is it possible to grow mushrooms on a balcony?
  5. Is it necessary to protect the logs against frost in Winter?
  6. How long does it take from inoculation to the first mushroom harvest?
  7. When should I remove the logs from the covered pile?
  8. What is the best wood for shiitake mushrooms?
  9. Which mushrooms can you grow on straw?
  10. Is it important to seal the ends of the logs with latex milk and where can I buy this?
  11. Which mushroom types are easy to grow and quick to harvest?

1. Inoculated plugs or grain spawn: Which is better?

Over a period of time, inoculated plugs have superseded grain spawn, but the latter is still available nonetheless. Inoculated plugs are generally easier to use than grain spawn and are also normally available in smaller quantities (from 50 plugs per mushroom type).

We supply grain spawn for various mushroom types in quantities of 1 liter or larger. Note that the delivery time can sometimes be longer than for the plugs, this ensures that the grain spawn is very fresh when you receive it.

With grain spawn, you can inoculate using the saw cut or borehole method. Putting in the grain spawn into the saw cut is maybe a bit more tricky: Cut a slot halfway through the log with a chainsaw, then press in the grain spawn with a flat piece of wood (e.g. a ruler) and close the slot with (transparent) adhesive packaging tape.

Instead of a saw cutyou can also use a large drill bit (18 to 20 mm) and drill deep holes and press in the grain spawn wth a dowel. Then seal the holes with candle wax, cork or round wood discs (so-called borehole method).

Disadvantages of the saw cut method: The logs, above all the thin shiitake logs, can weaken due to the slot - they then become rotten more quickly and can break at the cut. Further more, slugs and woodlice can hide in the slot because the grain spawn can fall out later (when the packaging tape disintegrates with age). This doesn't happen so quickly with the large holes if they are well sealed with wax or wood discs. So I don't really recommend the saw cut method for very thin shiitake logs (diameter less than 10 cm), use the borehole method instead. Tip: In the case of fresh wood it's better to use a large diameter normal drill bit than a Forstner drill bit.

Advantages of the saw cut method: The mycel grows faster than with the plugs. And if you have lots of logs, grain spawn is cheaper than plugs. Note: Due to the shorter shelf life, it should be used for inoculating fairly quickly if possible.

2. How long does the mushroom spawn keep? How should it be stored?

You should always buy inoculated plugs and grain spawn when it is fresh. It is a living product and the vitality decreases with age (we all know that don't we?). The grain spawn is packed in a special sterile bag which should only be open when you want to use it for inoculation. The plugs can be kept in the refrigerator for several weeks, in some cases months, this depends on how quickly the mycelia grows. Reishi spawn grows very slowly, shiitake and Oyster mushrooms are faster. The cooling slows down the mycelia growth. After several weeks or months of storage the plugs are not bad as such, but the wood starts to disintegrate and the plugs become soft. They are then difficult to insert into the holes in the log. So we normally do not recommend to store them for longer than 3 to 4 weeks in the refrigerator.
Grain spawn should always be ordered to ensure that it arrives just the right time for inoculation. To be on the safe side, please allow 3 to 4 weeks for us to ship. We can often ship faster during the main season, please ask in advance.

 

3. When is the best time of year for inoculating logs?

Spring to early summer is probably the best time. during this time it is easier to get hold of fresh wood and after inoculation you can put them in a pile in the garden (no more risk of heavy frosts). In addition, wood from trees felled in late winter or shortly before the leaves arrive has the highest sugar content which is particularly favourable for mushroom growth. If you get your wood in late autumn and then want to inoculate in winter, you can store the inoculated logs temporarily in a frost free room. The logs should be well wrapped in a plastic sheet or sack to make sure they do not dry out. Put lots of holes in the sheet and /or open up for ventilation from time to time, because water collects inside as a result of condensation.


4. Is it possible to grow mushrooms on a balcony?

Please note: from is always light shadow and not too much air circulation to avoid drying out due to evaporation. So a balcony on the South or West side is not suitable!

Shiitake logs are stored without Earth contact, and thus I do not recommend them for growing on the balcony. You will find it quite difficult to keep the logs moist enough.

The best mushroom types to try on the balcony are oyster mushrooms or, even better, elm oyster mushrooms. You can "plant" them in a large flowerpot (don't forget the drain hole in the bottom!) put the part in a shadowy place. Start by inoculating the logs and let the mycelia propagate by wrapping up in a plastic sack for 3-4 months in the normal way (detailed description in the instructions we send you with your order). After this, instead of partly burying the log in the garden you put it in a flower pot and surround the log with nutrient rich substrate or potting compound. For example, you can use a mixture of compost and straw or compost and sawdust (you can even use course betting sawdust intended for household pets). you must then keep the mixture damp (but not wet). it may help to use something against evaporation (plastic bag, above all during the propagation says.


5. Is it necessary to protect the buried logs against frost? Is it necessary to cover up the ends of the logs during winter?

You do not need to cover up the logs. you may even find mushrooms growing during warmer periods in the winter (for example oyster mushrooms). All mushroom spawn types we sell role in our climate and are frost proof provided that the myself has already grown into the word. Solely the pink oyster mushroom (Flamingo) likes warmth, you should cover up these logs during winter or you can even grow this mushroom type in the greenhouse.

 

6. How long does it take from inoculation to the first mushroom harvest?

This depends on the mushroom type, wood type and wood diameter.
Shiitake needs at least 15 months to the first harvest but it can leak even take up to two years, above all when growing on large diameter oak logs (hardwood). so please be patient if mushrooms had not yet appeared.

it's faster with oyster mushroom or elm oyster mushroom. if you inoculate late winter (i.e. storage initially in Frost proof room, e.g. cellar) or in early spring, the first harvest may even be possible in Autumn.

 

7. When should I remove the logs from the covered pile?

First of all, for all mushroom types: they can be removed from the prpogation pile after the mycelia is clearly visible on the cut ends, which shows that the mycelia has propagated throughout the whole log. For oyster mushroom this can take place within 4 - 5 months (painting on temperature and would type. soft wood such as poplar is faster). After the mycelia has appeared, don't wait too long before removing the log from the pile and burying it because this prevents it from drying out. The mycelia is now so vital and directly below the surface of the wood and this allows it to spread quickly into the surrounding earth. If the log remains in the pile too long and dries out, this can weaken the mycelia.

The shiitake can remain a bit longer in the pile after the mycelia has reached the cut end (although not really necessary). It doesn't grow through the wood as fast as the oyster mushroom and needs more time until the first mushrooms appear. There is quite a long phase after which the mycelia has propagated but the mushroom still needs to store nutrients to produce the first fruiting bodies.

Upright shiitake logs: on hot summer days you may find that cracks appear on the logs due to drying out. this will be regulated by a warm summer rain or occasional but vigourous watering from a watering can,. Moisture fluctuations do not damage the mushroom logs.

Shiitake logs in the pile: It is important that the mushroom logs do not dry out but they get enough fresh air, i.e. you should occasionally open up the pile for ventilation and check that the logs have not dried out! sometimes the moisture level in the pile decreases steadily and drops below a minimum level. for this reason you should only leave the logs in the pile if you are sure you will not forget them!


8. What is the best wood for shiitake mushrooms?

The best wood is oak with a diameter of about 10 cm, but you can use wood with a diameter of up to about 15 cm. you can also use beech (copper beech) and birch, bout with beach sometimes the bark peels off and that is a disadvantage. Birch rots faster because it is a very soft wood.
Wood length: Branches with a diameter of 10 cm can be up to 1.20 m long. Rule of thumb: You can use anything which is still easy to carry. thicker logs can also be shorter, but I would not use any log below about 50 cm in length. the propagation phase gets longer with an increase in diameter of the wood. in the case of thick oak logs the mycelia may need be able to properly penetrate into the heartwood.
For all shiitake logs: the bark must be healthy and complete. Bark damage is not so important for oyster mushrooms.


9. Which mushrooms can you grow on straw?

Shiitake will not grow on straw but you can grow oyster mushrooms. you should use Grange born because the inoculated plaques kind of get lost in the straw and it would take too long until the mycelia propagates throughout straw if you use plugs. You can also grow brown stew fungus on straw. Eine Anleitung finden Sie hier als download (pdf-Datei, 52 kB).

10. Is it important to seal the ends of the logs with latex milk and where can I buy this?

You can paint the cut ends of the logs with latex milk or latex binding agent but this is not essential. When you are only inoculating a small number of logs you can ignore this. ceiling with latex is intended to protect against drying out and foreign fungi.
You can sometimes get small quantities of latex milk from art and crafts shops, e.g. bottles of volume 0.2 l. That's enough for a few logs. You should be able to find larger canisters of latex milk in DIY stores. We also sell latex milk in our webshop'#.


11. Which mushroom types are easy to grow and quick to harvest?

The oyster mushroom grows quickly into the wood and doesn't need as long as shiitake until the first mushrooms appear. if you inoculate in spring it could be that the first oyster mushrooms appear in Autumn or in the following Spring. The shii-take also grows fast into the wood but it needs a quiet period after this in which to collect nutrients and this phase can take quite a long time (even up to 24 months). So don't give up hope with your shii-take, if there are no signs of mushrooms in the first year.

 

© Nicola Krämer. Mushroom spawn and growing advice since 1999