onyeka Posted August 13, 2016 Hi sabers, if decided I want to try grow some shiitaki mushrooms. I purchased some dowells on eBay and did a little research online and found out that in Japan they like to grow shiitake mushrooms in oak logs, so I thought if I'm Gona try this I'll buy a oak log. I went to a saw mill and purchased an oak log cost me £8 and it's heavy as fu@k nearly pulled my back lifting it into my car! Apparently if all goes well I can expect to be harvesting for up to 5 years :-) Been a newby to this do any of you guys have any tips on growing these? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have not yet drilled holes to make the log colonised just trying to make sure I'm doing things correct. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waterboy 2.0 Posted August 14, 2016 There is a coupla threads about, and Naja had one recently about aus native woods that you might find useful Dont let the log dry out during coloisation is a big tip This may also be very useful (and for others) http://gen.lib.rus.ec/book/index.php?md5=28E1D223D22F0BAD76585AB6904E8644 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cue Posted August 14, 2016 There are some great edible growers at https://www.mycotek.org I started to grow some Shitake on oak logs last year, but work got busy and I didn't have the time to noc my logs until it was really too late. So, I have researched it. You want logs between 3"-4". And, you want them fresh. I have some another large oak tree that needs some limbs cut, so I may try again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Distracted Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) Get it struck by lightning when it's close to spawning! That's the only obscure tip I can give. edit: source http://phys.org/news/2010-04-lightning-mushrooms.html The experiments showed mushrooms react best when exposed to a ten-millionth of a second burst of electricity at 50-100,000 volts. Under the best conditions the nameko yield was 80% greater than the untreated control crop, while the shiitake crop yield doubled. Takaki said the mushrooms initially decrease the enzyme and protein secretions from the hyphae (tiny filaments that spread under the surface, acting like roots and giving rise to the fruiting bodies such as mushrooms), but then suddenly increase production. The reason for the reaction is unknown and the subject of further investigation. Edited August 16, 2016 by Distracted 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites