Natural Log Culture

Methods: Stick
Colonization: 18 - 24 months
Most hardwoods are suitable for mushroom cultivation, with
few exceptions. The recommended species are Oak, Maple
and Beech, but you can also use Poplar, Cherry or Walnut.
Avoid Conifers, Cedar and Ash. It is OK to use Birch for Oysters
and Lion’s Mane.
Fruiting: Late Summer through
late Fall
Best Wood: Oak, Maple, Beech
Methods: Stick, stump, totem
Colonization: 3 - 6 months
The goldilocks rule applies best here: not too fresh, not too
old. Cut a fresh log and let it sit for 3 to 5 weeks. If you try to
inoculate as soon as you cut, the immune system of the tree is
going to fight your mycelium off. If you wait more than 5
weeks, there is a chance another microorganism is going to
make that log their home. Never use an old or unknown
condition log, or one that shows signs of decay. Stumps can be
up to 3 months old.
Fruiting: Early Spring and late
Fall
Best Wood: Maple, Birch
Methods: Stick, stump, totem
Colonization: 3 - 6 months
Fruiting: Early Summer
through late Fall
Best Wood: Maple, Birch
Dormant trees make the best hosts for Saprophytic
Mushrooms. That means you can cut any time the leaves
start to turn color during Fall until right before the buds start
to swell in the Spring. Do not cut in the Spring when leaves
are developing as the bark is weak at this stage and it will
deteriorate rapidly. A healthy bark is required for good
mushroom production. If you miss the dormant window, wait
until Summer, at least a month after full leaf out.
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Follow the instructions of the inoculation method appropriate
for your spawn (stick, stump, totem). Limit to one mushroom
species per log. Bark should be dry before inoculating. Protect
your log from extreme weather conditions for at least 5 weeks,
especially freezing, until the mycelium establishes itself in its
new home. Logs can be kept loosely covered indoors for that
period of time and then placed outdoors in a shaded area,
where they can remain for the rest of their fruiting life (2- 5
years, depending on the density of the wood). Temperate
mushrooms will go dormant during winter and will awake in
the Spring after being soaked by rain.
Methods: Fat stick, stump,
totem
Colonization: 12 - 24 months
Fruiting: Fall
Best Wood: Oak, Maple
Methods: Fat stick, stump,
totem
Colonization: 12 - 24 months
Fruiting: Fall
Best Wood: Oak, Maple
Methods: Stick, stump, totem
Colonization: 12 - 24 months
Fruiting: Fall
Best Wood: Maple
(same conditions for Comb Tooth)
Spawn Type: Plugs and Sawdust
Log Size: 3 - 8” diameter, 30 - 40” long
Species: Shiitake, Lions Mane, Comb Tooth, Oysters. For Hen
and Chicken of the Wood use 8” diameter.
Tools: For plug spawn, use a 5/16” bit and drill to 1” depth. For
sawdust spawn, use a 7/16” bit, and drill to 1/2” depth below
2”
the bark.
6”
2”
Start drilling holes in a diamond pattern about 2” from one end
of the log, 6” apart along its length, and 2 1/2” around its perimeter. Inoculate each log immediately after drilling the holes. If
you are using plug spawn, tap a plug into each hole with a hammer until the plug is flush with the bottom of the bark. For sawdust spawn, jab the end of the inoculating tool into the open bag
of spawn to pick up some spawn, place the end of the inoculation
tool over a hole, and push the handle down with your thumb,
squeezing the sawdust spawn down into the hole.
Spawn Type: Plugs and Sawdust
Stump Size: Any
Species: Oysters, Turkey Tail, Hen and Chicken of the Wood.
Tools: For plug spawn, use a 5/16” bit and drill to 1” depth. For
Spawn Type: Sawdust
Log Size: 8 - 14” diameter, cut in 12- 18” long sections for Oys-
sawdust spawn, use a 7/16” bit, and drill to 1/2” depth below the
bark.
Stumps are an excellent growing medium because their
roots are still intact and able to
take care of their own moisture needs. Choose a stump
that is located in a shady environment. It is best to inoculate
stumps in spring before the
wild mushrooms start popping up. They can be drilled and
plugged in the same manner described for log cultivation, making
sure you inoculate all around the face, sides and any exposed
roots. Waxing is required to increase rates of success. This method takes the longest to colonize (2 to 3 years) but your patience
will be rewarded with bountiful harvests for up to 8 years!
the Wood and Chicken of the Wood.
Waxing: Seal every inoculated hole with cheese wax. Waxing is
optional when using plug spawn but required with sawdust
spawn. The wax protects the spawn against drying and insects. If
you choose not to wax the plugs, store the logs in a plastic bag
with a slight opening for 5 to 8 weeks before stacking freely.
Stacking: Place your logs in a year round shady spot, a shaded
greenhouse, or under a canopy of trees.
- Keep plugs and sawdust spawn at constant room
temperature to avoid condensation.
- Do not open the spawn bag until you are ready to use the
spawn. Doing so highly increases the risk of mold
contamination.
- Let your substrate colonize completely before using. It
should be solid white (or very close to it) before you open the
bag. It is OK to crumble sawdust spawn and to separate
solidified plugs with your fingers right before inoculation.
- If your spawn is fully colonized (solid white) and you are not
ready to use it, refrigerate unopened bags up to 6 months for
plugs and up to 3 months for sawdust blocks. Never freeze.
- Once the bags have been opened, all spawn must be used
and it cannot go back into storage.
ters and 6 - 12” long section for all of the other species.
Species: Lions Mane, Comb Tooth, Oysters, Turkey Tail, Hen of
Tools: Chainsaw, staples or nails, hammer
This method works best on larger
diameter logs and it allows the
mycelium to colonize fast, which
means mushrooms sooner!
8-14”
2”
Set your first log section on a
6-18”
stable surface inside of a large
garbage bag. Crumble the sawdust
spawn with your fingers and sprinkle
on top of the log to cover it with a
layer that is 1/8” or 1/4” deep. Set
another section on top of this and
repeat the process like making a layer cake that is 3 or 4 sections
high. Cover the last layer with newspaper, brown paper bags or a
thin section of the same log (just a few inches thick). Staple or
nail the sides of the log to keep it from tipping over. Close the
bag to conserve moisture, but leave a slight opening so it can
breathe. Store in constant temperature between 60 - 80° F for 3
months (Oysters), 5 months (others). After that, remove the
totem from the bag and place in a shaded spot, a shaded greenhouse, or under a canopy of trees.