Organic Shiitake Mushroom Sawdust Spawn












Skill level | Beginner |
Grow location | Outdoors |
Spawn shelf life | 6 months (refrigerated) |
Bag weight | 5.5 lbs |
Incubation | 6-12 months |
Fruiting temps | 55-70°F |
Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is a nutritious mushroom that produces medium-to-large, brown, umbrella-shaped caps that tend to fruit throughout the summer to fall growing season. They are a delicious edible fungus from East Asia and their flavor is often described as rich, savory, buttery, and umami. Shiitake tends to produce generous flushes and they are a great mushroom for beginners. Once inoculated, logs can fruit in as little as 6 months from inoculation, but generally take 9-12 months. And a single log can continue to fruit for many years if kept in the right conditions.
"5 of the Best Shiitake Mushroom Recipes"
Recommended use:
- Shiitake sawdust spawn is only recommended for log projects.
- Sawdust spawn is ideal for larger log projects of 10 or more logs.
- This is not a mushroom grow kit. Shiitake sawdust spawn must be used in log inoculation in order to fruit.
Upon receiving your spawn:
Remove it from the shipping box as soon as possible. Then, unfold the top of the bag, making room for air space. It's also important to check and confirm that the filter patch is not obstructed. This will help the organism breathe and continue to thrive!
Scroll down for cultivation, inoculation, and storage guides.
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To grow on logs using sawdust spawn, you will need a Log Inoculation Tool, Log Sealing Wax, and Wax Daubers.
For larger log projects you may also want to purchase an Angle Grinder Adapter and specialized 12mm drill bit.
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Click here to download our pamphlet on growing mushrooms on logs and totems.
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Shiitake works best with the log method. Colonization takes at least 9-12 months, and fruiting tends to occur throughout the summer to fall growing seasons and after rainfalls. Preferred wood species are oak, maple, or beech.
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If you don’t plan to use your shiitake sawdust spawn right away, store in the refrigerator. Use within 6 months of receipt.
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"5 of the Best Shiitake Mushroom Recipes"
Shiitake 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. These mushrooms are delicious sauteed and can be used in stir-fries, risottos, ramens, on pizzas, or simply eaten by themselves.
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All our spawn is made using organic cultures from our own culture bank. Our sawdust spawn is handmade from a blend of locally sourced, all-natural, organic, and non-GMO woods and supplements from farms and forests in New England and North America.
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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.
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Amazing Flushes!
Over a year after innocultating several oak logs , I've had several huge flushes after rainy weather. Nothing like no effort results! I'm continually impressed with the quality of spawn from North Spore and will continue to go to them first for my mushroom growing needs.
North Spore
Great pics, Lindsey! We’re so happy you’re enjoying the experience!

Nice surprise after a rainstorm
I purchased the shiitake sawdust spawn and used the totem method. The wood is sweet gum that fell in a storm in late January. The wood was green, measuring 12 inches around by 32 inches tall. I cut several layers of wood and stacked as shown in the videos North Spore provided. The first shiitake mushrooms appeared about 6 months later. the logs were kept damp but they would not produce again. I thought the endeavor was lost and began to ignore them. This spring, about one year later, the logs were again covered in mushrooms. Now they produce every time it rains. The attached photo was taken two days after a big rainstorm and 18 months after the totem was set. Im curious of how long this set up can produce.