Outdoor Grows, Plugs and Sawdust
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Can I inoculate logs with wine cap?
No, the Wine Cap only grows on substrate that is already broken apart, like sawdust. It's best in garden path areas or other places where beds of sawdust, wood chips or straw can be maintained. -
What species of log is best? Some mushrooms are generalists, meaning they’ll grow on a wide variety of substrates, while others are specialists, preferring just a few. You can reference the chart below to find which tree species work best for each mushroom variety, and other types of wood they c...
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Only freshly cut, disease-free wood should be used. Old or rotting wood should be avoided as it will likely contain contaminant fungi or be too dry to support mushroom growth. Once cut, the sooner you can inoculate the log the better, though you can wait up to 4 weeks after cutting before inocula...
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Morel spawn is considered experimental so we do not have a specific preparation we recommend. We do suggest using this experimental spawn in outdoor beds, forest floor inoculations, or using burned substrates. Our morel culture was obtained from fruiting specimens in a burnt pitch pine forest in ...
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Growing mushrooms in a container
Growing oyster mushrooms in containers outside is a great way to incorporate mushrooms into your space and pretty easy to set up and maintain. You'll need just a few things for the process: a container, straw or other agricultural waste, mushroom spawn, a water source, and tub or pot to soak the ... -
Hole spacing for log inoculation
We recommend drilling holes in an equally spaced diamond pattern around the entire log. Each hole should be about 1" deep and about 6" apart in rows along the length. Space rows about 2-3" apart, this should make the holes about 3" offset diagonally. It's okay if the rows are little uneven! You c... -
How does pasteurization lead to more diversity?
The variety of mushrooms that we can cultivate varies not just in appearance and flavor, but also in their growth rate and ability to outcompete other microbes. Oysters, our most commonly cultivated mushrooms are so vigorous they can grow on most substrates. Other species, like hen of the woods, ... -
How long before my logs fruit?
That will depend on what species you’re growing, the size of your logs, and environmental conditions. Most mushrooms on standard size logs in temperate climates will take about a year to fully colonize before they fruit. This can vary between 6 months to two years. Smaller diameter logs and soft ... -
100 plugs will do 1-2 logs; the drill pattern does not need to be perfect. You can find more detailed information here: plug spawn
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How many years will my logs produce?
Logs will produce for two to four years, on average. It will depend though by type of wood, the size of the log, how much spawn was used, and if the log was force fruited or not. -
How to cultivate Hen of the Woods
Hen of the Woods should be inoculated in oak logs. After the one-year incubation period, where you stack logs in a normal fire-wood style stack, you should bury your log under 1-2 inches of soil. Bury them someplace shady where they will have access to water or rainfall. Make sure to mark the spo... -
Moldy spawn or white mycelium?
Mushroom spawn will naturally develop a white (or yellow for Chicken of the Woods), mold-like layer called mycelium. This branching network of threads is the primary body of fungi, the vegetative structure. A good analogy is if a mushroom is like an apple, then mycelium is like an apple tree. See... -
Some mammals like deer or squirrels may take a nibble out of the mushrooms, but generally, they don’t devastate a crop. Occasionally, you may find some insect or slug damage. Just cut out that part of the mushroom. The rest will be fine.
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Overwintering logs through freezing temperatures
When temperatures drop below freezing, mycelium will go dormant. So, your logs will fare just fine over the winter if you live in a cold climate. Sometimes, harsh winds can dry out logs though so covering them with leaves, a tarp, or a blanket of snow can help protect them. -
Plugs are very resilient but are slower to colonize. Plugs require only a drill and hammer for tools, and are economical for smaller projects. Sawdust colonizes drilled logs about 30% faster than plugs. They're good for larger projects, but an inoculation tool is required, along with other tools ...
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Protecting beds from insects and animals
For protecting your mushroom beds from critters we recommend the following: Fencing in your garden Agriculture fabric or shade cloth; using shade cloth can both offer your beds protection from the sun and from some insects and animals Insect traps; for flies and slugs you can use cups of beer or... -
Since mushrooms have a tendency to accumulate toxins, it's important to find straw that hasn't been sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. If you can find organic, great - though it's possible there are farmers in your area who aren't using chemicals who may not be certified. Never a...
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Should wood rest before inoculation?
You can let your logs rest for a few days to a week before inoculation to allow the cells to die and some moisture to evaporate leaving room for the mycelium to grow through the wood. Keep in mind though, the longer wood sits out before inoculation, the more likely it will become contaminated or ... -
Force fruiting works best with shiitake mushrooms. We recommend soaking your logs overnight and not more than 24 hours. You should allow your log to fruit once naturally (after a rainfall or other triggering event) before attempting to force fruit your log. Allow at least one month of rest before...
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Plug and sawdust spawn will store for six months to a year in a refrigerator. The fresher the better, but mycelium is pretty resilient. If you don’t get around to inoculating right away, tuck it away in your refrigerator until you’re ready, with the exception of Pink Oyster Spawn which can't tole...
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Time between cutting and inoculating logs
Logs should be inoculated within a week or two of cutting. This allows the cells in the tree to die but is not long enough for the log to dry out or for other competitor fungi to become established. You should not use logs that were cut last year or logs with damaged bark. A month would be about ... -
For plug spawn, you’ll need a drill with a 5/16” (8mm) bit to make holes in the log, a hammer to drive the plugs into the holes and wax to seal the holes. If you are inoculating several logs, you may find that an angle grinder adapter with an 8.5mm drill bit will help the work to go more quickly....
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Troubleshooting Your Outdoor Grow
Should I stop watering my mushroom bed before frost? Yes, it’s a good idea to stop watering your mushroom bed when you stop watering your plants. When temperatures dip below freezing, the mycelium will do dormant. So, they won’t need that extra water input until it warms up, and they are active a... -
It’s important not to let the log dry out but it’s also important not to over-water the log. Balance is key. Logs should be stored in shady outdoor locations close to the ground. In temperate climates, they generally retain enough moisture to colonize fully without watering. During especially dry...
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What are the dots in my spawn?
We grow out our mushroom cultures on a mix of nutrient-rich grains including millet and wheat berries to help them transfer onto wood. They are totally normal and can be ignored in your inoculation process. -
Any size logs will work. You can use branches or saplings if that is what you have available. Small-diameter wood will colonize faster, but will not produce for as many seasons as a larger log. You don't want the logs to be so large or heavy that they are difficult to use. For drilling methods, a...
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Oyster mushrooms are vigorous growers that love agricultural byproducts. Here in the Northeast, straw is easy to come by and pretty affordable so it's our go-to substrate. But what type of straw is best? First, you want to use straw instead of hay. Hay is used as animal feed so it contains nutri...
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Some mushrooms are generalists, meaning they’ll grow on a wide variety of substrates, while others are specialists, preferring just a few. You can reference our chart here to find which tree species work best for each mushroom variety, and other types of wood they can be grown on. Preferred speci...
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When to cut wood for inoculating logs
Healthy, living trees can be felled for mushroom bolts nearly any time of year. It is not recommended to harvest logs during the spring between budding and full leaf out. During this time, most of the nutrients and energy of the tree are expended in a push to develop flowers and foliage, leaving ... -
There are two types of Reishi commonly cultivated in the US: Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma tsugae. Only Ganoderma tsugae will grow on hemlock.
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Yield from log grown mushrooms
The general rule of thumb is one year of production per inch of log diameter. However, yields will vary greatly depending on the mushroom strain, tree species used, and environmental conditions each season. Shiitake logs usually have their largest flushes during their second and third years pro...