The Martha Stewart Show

Growing Mushrooms

The Martha Stewart Show

Jack Algiere demonstrates how to grow shiitake mushrooms on a log.

Shiitake Mushroom Logs

Grow delicious and nutritious shiitake mushrooms in any shaded location with this step-by-step guide from Jack Algiere of the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. Each log will produce about 2 to 3 pounds of mushrooms.

Tools and Materials

Healthy white oak log, approximately 6 inches in diameter and 4 to 5 feet long at the most
Drill with 5/16-inch drill bit
Rubber mallet
Wood dowels, inoculated with shiitake mycelium
Wax for melting
Mini Crock-Pot
Small paintbrush

Shiitake Mushroom Log How-To
1. Drill several 1-inch-deep holes, about 4 inches apart, into surface of log using a 5/16-inch drill bit.

2. Using a rubber mallet, hammer wood dowels that have been inoculated with shiitake mycelium (the living body mass of the fungus) into the holes. The mycelium will enter the log and spread throughout the wood.

3. Melt wax in Crock-Pot. Using a small paintbrush, cover each hole with melted wax.

4. Place log in well-shaded place, like the north side of a shed or underneath a porch. Water regularly, keeping log wet. Mushrooms should bloom in approximately six months, and the log should continue to produce mushrooms every six months for about six years.

Resources
Tools and materials available from Field & Forest and Fungi Perfecti.

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The Martha Stewart Show

Growing Mushrooms

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