In Japan and China in particular, the shiitake mushroom is what the button mushroom is to us: the healthy medicinal mushroom is cultivated in its homeland in quantities of several 100,000 tons. It has been possible to cultivate this mushroom, which is not native to us, in this country for a number of years, with several options available to you.
Shiitake mushrooms are usually grown on wood
Shiitake is preferably grown on wood
The Shiitake is a mushroom that is traditionally grown on wood. Of course, you need the appropriate space and a suitable location for such a trunk: the mushrooms do not like temperatures above 22 °C and also do not tolerate direct, intensive sunlight. Ergo, a shady, sheltered spot in the garden is best suited for setting up a mushroom cultivation stem. However, you also have the option of opting for shiitake cultivation using a ready-to-grow kit instead. Whole tree trunks are not used as a substrate, but sawdust instead.
Select and inoculate wood
The Shiitake grows best on woods such as beech, birch, alder, cherry or chestnut. Choose freshly felled, healthy and damp wood, which must not be more than three months old and also must not have a "mushroom" smell. In addition, the tree trunk should not be treated with fungicides, otherwise fungal growth is impossible. The inoculation follows this scheme:
- Jack up the trunk.
- Now cut it in staggered cuts running across each other.
- The cuts should be at least four inches deep.
- This works best with a chainsaw.
- Now insert the grain substrate or the inoculation plugs deeply.
- Close the vaccination holes, for example with gauze bandages.
- Now water the wood. Only use fresh tap water for this.
With this method, it can take a few months for the stem to be infused with mycelium and the first fungi to appear. Ensure that no frost occurs during the growth phase or, if necessary, bring the inoculated tree trunk to safety. Frost kills the fungus. Even temperatures below eight degrees Celsius are not conducive to fungal growth.
tips
When purchasing shiitake mushroom spawn, read the cultivation instructions carefully. This can vary depending on the breed and manufacturer.