Grow shiitake mushrooms at home.
Consider growing mushrooms at home as opposed to purchasing store-bought if you enjoy them in your soups, salads or savory dishes. Maitake, white button and shiitake mushrooms are suitable for beginners and easy to grow at home. Although the process may require several attempts in the beginning, the end result, in the form of an endless supply of homegrown shiitake mushrooms, is worth the effort. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Cut a 6- to 7-inch-wide, three-month-old hardwood log to 4 feet in length with a saw. Use alder logs or hardwoods such as oak. Soak the log in a tub of water for one-and-a-half to two hours.
2. Wear protective goggles and drill 25 holes into the soaked log with a 5/16-inch drill bit. Drill each hole 2 inches deep and space it 4 inches away from the adjacent one. Drilling the holes in a spiral pattern looks attractive when the mushrooms begin to grow.
3. Add one shiitake plugs into each hole. Insert each plug into a hole by hand, or pound gently with a rubber mallet to ensure a snug fit and its top is in level with the surrounding surface. Work carefully so you don't damage the bark surrounding the log.
4. Melt cheese wax to 150 degrees F to seal the holes and prevent the plugs from drying or dying. Use a sterile spoon or turkey baster to cover each hole with the wax that serves as a nutrient base for the plugs.
5. Stand the log vertically in a shaded area against a wall or fence, or against a length of rope extended between two parallel tree trunks. You can also bury one end of the log in the ground to enable it to stand upright. A shaded, sheltered spot provides the ideal condition that encourages the mycelium to spread over the log and cover it completely.
6. Water the log to maintain the internal moisture level of 40 to 65 per cent. Use a garden hose every 10 to 14 days with chlorine-free water. Mushrooms begin to appear in six months to a year.
7. Harvest the mushrooms when the cap is wide open and fully separated from the stalk.
Tags: each hole, shiitake mushrooms, mushrooms home
