Ordering a log kit with a voucher allows you to redeem your plug spawn at a later date. Vouchers make a great gift and are good for projects beyond a 3 month start date.

Ordering a kit with live spawn is best for projects that will be done within 3 months of ordering.

Plug spawn is living and perishable. It can live unrefrigerated for up to three months or refrigerated for up to 6 months.

Chicken of the woods does best in oak logs. However, it should be noted that chicken of the woods is prone to being out-competed by other fungi. For this reason, we recommend the following:

To limit competition and increase the chances of success, we strongly recommend sterilizing 8" by 8" segments of oak log in a pressure cooker or steam sterilizer before inoculation. Incubate your sterilized log segments for a few months in XL sealed filter patch bags until they are completely colonized. After colonization period, logs should be removed from bags and partially buried under 2 inches of top soil. The mushrooms will fruit from logs and emerge out of the soil.

(You can sterilize your log segments in a 22 qt or larger pressure cooker such as an All-American.)

If you don't plan to use immediately, you can refrigerate your spawn for up to 6 months.

Be sure to harvest chicken of the woods mushrooms when young to avoid a brittle texture. When cooked, they have a meaty, slightly lemony, flavor with a texture similar to chicken. The tougher outer pieces are best dried and used in soups or risottos or ground down to make rubs. The more tender, center pieces are delicious when sauteed with garlic, onions, salt, and olive oil. (A splash of white wine is nice, too!)

If you’re going to consume home-grown mushrooms, make sure to cook your fresh mushrooms thoroughly with heat. If it is your first time eating this species, it is best to start with a small amount to check for allergies, even if cooked.

Plug Spawn FAQ

Log Cultivation FAQ