How to grow shiitake mushrooms

11th January, 2022

Shiitake mushrooms are a delicious and healthy addition to any meal. They're also incredibly easy to grow at home.

Shiitake mushrooms are native to East Asia and have been cultivated there for centuries. In the wild (see photo above), they grow on the deadwood of hardwood trees, but they can also be grown on sawdust, logs, or tree stumps.

To grow shiitake mushrooms at home, you'll need a shiitake spawn (mushroom spores that have been grown on a medium), a log, and some cheesecloth or burlap hessian sack material.

To get started, drill a line of holes into your log, about an inch deep and four inches apart. If you want to add more than one line of holes, make the lines about 2 inches apart, and drill the holes, so they are halfway between the holes on the row above. The holes will eventually be filled with shiitake spawn.

Next, soak your log or piece of wood in water for 24 hours. This will help to hydrate the wood and make it easier for the spawn to take hold.

After the log or piece of wood has soaked, fill the holes with shiitake spawn and cover the holes with cheesecloth or burlap. The shiitake spawn can bought as plugs, which make the job easier, as you just need to press / gently hammer them into the holes.

Place the log or piece of wood in a shady spot outdoors and keep it moist by misting it with water, so it remains damp. Remove the cloth when there is signs of growth. In 6-12 months, you should start to see mushrooms growing out of the holes.

Once the mushrooms have reached maturity, harvest them by cutting them at the base with a sharp knife. Be sure to leave some of the mushrooms behind so that they can continue to produce spores and produce new mushrooms.

With just a little patience and care, you can enjoy fresh shiitake mushrooms right from your own garden. They can be used in many ways, such as in noodle dishes, in miso soup, or made into a sauce.