Shiitake is one of the 5 most cultivated edible mushrooms in the world. Growing this mushroom on logs has been adopted by many growers and I could tell that there are standard instructions on how to grow Shiitakes on logs but finally each grower has his own method. The log cultivation however, has the disadvantage that is slow and labor compared to bag cultivation of Shiitake. Anyway, cultivating Shiitake on log is a great way to grow mushrooms for you and your family (for a small production scale). It is a more natural way of growing mushrooms.
Log cultivation of Shiitake on a large scale is not an efficient way to supply market needs of Shiitake, besides encourages massive deforestation (see picture) which is not in concordance with sustainable environment practices.
As substrate for log cultivation you can use hardwood (oak, beech, etc), or softwood (birch, poplar, etc). Generally when cultivation Shiitake on softwood you'll collect mushrooms faster but in smaller amounts compared to when cultivating them on hardwood. Hardwood takes more time to be decomposed by the inner growing mycelium but will assure you with more mushrooms over longer periods of time. Trees should be felled in winter or spring because the content of wood in sugars is higher. Coniferous wood is also suitable for log cultivation of Shiitake however, this type of wood contains resins and other compounds that inhibit the mycelium run within the wood mass, therefore a common practice is to store the log outside for up to two years time in which the mycelium growth inhabiting substances reduce their power up to 50%.
Cultivating mushrooms on logs is labor because you need to drill around 30-50 holes on the whole surface of each log. The more holes there are the better because it shortens the colonization time of the wood mass by the mycelium.
Another aspect worth considering here is connected to environmental condition requirement when storing logs outdoors or indoors. If you choose to store them outdoor than you should take care of humidity loss and temperature fluctuation. You can preserve humidity withing your logs by burying them 1/3 or 1/4 of their length into the ground. The inoculated logs should not be kept in the direct sun light, but in the shade.
Steps to follow:
1. Drill holes all over your log (30-50 holes)
2. Keep your logs for 2-3 days into a tank filled up with water (if they are too dry)
3. Inoculate your logs with plug or sawdust spawn
4. Seal the holes with wax (you'll need a paint brush and a pot for meting the wax)
5. Store your logs somewhere in the shade or bury them as mentioned above
6. When you notice white mycelium on their surface could be a sign that they are already colonized with mycelium. This occurs after 6-8 months for softwood and 12-14 months for hardwood.
7. Stimulate fructification by keeping your logs into a tank filled up with cold water for 72 hours.
8. Allow your mushroom to mature and then collect them
9. Wait for the next flush.
Find out more:
Log or Bag Cultivation? Which One of Them Is Better and Why?
Beginner's Guide to Oyster Mushroom Cultivation at Home
How to Grow Oyster Mushrooms on Logs
References:
Przybylowicz P., Donoghue J. Shiitake growers handbook (The art and science of mushroom cultivation)....
Stamets P. 1993. Growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press.
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