Shiitake Outdoor Mushroom Log Kit

Lentinula edodes

Check out our Spawn FAQ to figure out what type of log you need!

Shiitake is a very nutritious and medicinal mushroom that produces edible, brown, umbrella-shaped spongy caps. It has a meaty texture when cooked and is good for drying and reconstituting in winter soups. It pairs beautifully with tamari, ginger, and garlic and can bring needed umami to many different dishes. Shiitake takes at least 12 months of colonization before producing mushrooms and tends to fruit throughout the summer to fall growing season.

In addition to acting as a general immune system booster, Shiitake can be used as a tonic to promote overall liver and kidney health (Marley, 2009). Shiitake also contains high concentrations of the substance eritadenine, which may be beneficial in reducing blood cholesterol levels (Enman et al., 2007). Beyond helping relieve ailments, Shiitake has nutritional value due to its ability to absorb Vitamin D. Drying Shiitake in the sunlight will increase Vitamin D levels by more than a hundred times compared to Shiitake dried in the dark (Stamets, 2005). 

Difficulty: Beginner 

Shiitake is a great mushroom for beginners. They colonize quickly and are the most reliable producers of any species. Great for commercial cultivation!

Spawn is living and perishable.

It can live unrefrigerated for up to three months, though it is best to keep it refrigerated for long-term storage. Because of its perishability we offer our Outdoor Mushroom Log Kits with two options:

Outdoor Mushroom Log Kits can be shipped either with mushroom spawn included (for projects that will begin within 3 months of the order date) or shipped with a voucher for receiving spawn at a later date (best for holiday gifts or projects beyond a 3 month start date).