The Ultimate Guide to Grow Mushroom Logs

by Delun Kang Agriculture

The article explains the various perspectives of growing mushrooms on logs, for example reasons for cultivation, choosing logs, placing logs for inoculation, etc.

Growing a log of mushroom is primarily a technical thing that requires some knowledge and a gradual development of specific expertise. You need to know the duration and process of growing mushroom that would be beneficial for you. The following sections provide you some concrete ideas on this matter.

A few reasons to grow mushrooms on logs

Growing Mushroom Logs can be justified with pertinent reasons, ranging from adding value to forestry to development of new markets.

· Diversifying products

· Diversifying the revenue streams for you

· Adding value to the wood species

· Creating employment and also extending the period of work for your temporary workers

· Creating a medicinal value for your forest undergrowth

· Developing new markets that support your products

· Cost-effective strategy to develop nutritious mushrooms

Log varieties that you can use

You can confidently choose hardwood log species for growing shiitake and oyster mushrooms. The type of hardwood available in your forestry is instrumental in growing Mushroom Logs. Shiitake mushrooms grow well on oak and red maple logs. Oyster mushrooms grow quickly on white birch logs.

Time for growth

It takes about 1 to 2 years for a bountiful harvest of mushrooms on logs. Once they start producing, you will be able to benefit from their fertility for 6 to 7 years continuously.

Choosing the logs

Remember to select healthy trees when you are looking for logs. A tree with a decayed body or infected wood is not suitable for growing mushrooms. Harvesting logs during the autumn or winter months is productive. Logs may vary in size. The larger a log is, the longer it will take for the colonization of mycelium along the entire length and production of mushrooms.

Placing logs after inoculation

You must keep the logs somewhere shady and humid. Keep in mind to maintain a good air circulation for preventing any mold growth. Also, keep the logs near a water source. During the incubation and all-important fruiting stages, you need to hose down the logs to keep them moist. You may place the logs under the side of a building, or the bottom of a south-facing slope, or under a forest canopy.

Types of mushrooms that you can grow

There are a few excellent options when it is about growing mushrooms on logs.

· Oyster mushrooms – They are commercially grown on straw or coffee grounds. They can also be cultivated on logs. They have a short incubation period and can be grown from autumn to spring months.

· Shiitake mushrooms – They have a firm texture and also have medicinal properties besides adding culinary value to your food. It has a lengthier incubation period of about 2 years.

· Lion’s Mane mushrooms – They have a shaggy appearance and grow well on beech, elm and poplar logs. They are voluminous once they mature, and are edible.

Using knowledge for cultivation

After gathering the relevant information about growing mushroom, it is not so difficult to begin exploring your forestry and cultivating enthusiastically, expecting positive results.

Resource: https://medium.com/@darrinheiin/the-ultimate-guide-to-grow-mushroom-logs-b13463739514