Shiitake Mushroom Plug Spawn

Save on all 1000 count plug spawn when you buy in bulk

Save 10% when you buy 4
Save 20% when you buy 8
Save 25% when you buy 12

Discounts will be reflected at checkout; feel free to mix and match plug spawn species

For our complete Plug Spawn pamphlet, click here.

Shiitake Mushrooms

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is a very nutritious and medicinal mushroom that produces edible umbrella-shaped brown caps. It is traditionally used in East Asian cuisine but can also be used in many different styles of cooking.

Plug spawn—great for first-time growers of mushroom log. It’s usually used for small projects of 1 to 10 logs, though some log cultivators will use it for larger projects. Plug spawn comes in 100, 500, and 1,000-count bags.

Inoculation

Growing shiitake mushrooms works best with the log method. It will take at least 12 months of colonization before mushroom production, and shiitake tends to fruit throughout the summer to fall growing seasons and after rainfalls. Preferred wood species are oak, maple, or beech.

Check out our spawn FAQs to figure out which types of logs you can use!

Difficulty: Beginner

Shiitake is a suitable mushroom for beginners. It colonizes quickly and is the most reliable producer of any species, great for commercial cultivation.

Cooking

This mushroom 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 flavor to various dishes.

Properties

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 helpful in lowering blood-cholesterol levels (Enman et al., 2007). Beyond helping to relieve ailments, it has nutritional value due to its ability to absorb vitamin D. Drying shiitake in the sunlight will increase its vitamin D levels by more than a hundred times, compared to shiitake dried in the dark (Stamets, 2005).

How to Grow Shiitake Mushrooms

To grow shiitake mushrooms at home, you must have an oak-tree log using the log method. An oak tree is the ideal wood log for shiitake mushroom plugs. However, you may use maple, birch, poplar, or aspen as alternatives. These logs can also accommodate the growth of shiitake mushrooms.

How to grow is more challenging than finding the perfect log. Growing mushrooms—whether it’s shiitake or any other type—using the log method requires dedication and patience. If you use plugs, you must drill two-inch-deep holes on the log. Then, you insert the plug spawn in the holes. 

Plug spawn is a piece of hardwood inoculated with spawn. After inoculating the plugs, keep the wood hydrated, and don’t put it in windy areas. More importantly, don’t stack spawn logs like you would firewood. The spawn needs air, space, and sunlight to grow.

You may buy a mushroom spawn pack to start cultivating mushrooms. For more information about plugs, plug spawn, and other products, you may contact us info@northspore.com. Please include your name, email address, and query so we can provide you with the information you need.

Other Shiitake products:
Grow Your Own Shiitake
Shiitake Log Kit
Shiitake Grain Spawn
Shiitake Sawdust Spawn
Shiitake Cultures
Immunity Blend Tincture