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Hen of the Woods (Maitake) Sawdust Spawn
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| Skill level | Advanced |
| Grow location | Outdoors |
| Spawn shelf life | 6 months (refrigerated) |
| Flavor profile | Succulent, earthy |
| Bag weight | 5.5 lbs |
Hen of the Woods, aka Maitake (Grifola frondosa) is a succulent polypore with a delicate feathery texture and earthy rich flavor. Its lacy sides make it a great option for frying, roasting, sautéing, and adding a visual flair to many dishes. Hen of the woods mushrooms are great for enthusiast growers who have had some success with other more advanced species. Because it is not a strong competitor, it requires a different cultivation strategy and works best when logs are steam sterilized, incubated and colonized in filter patch bags, then removed from bags and buried vertically in a shaded spot.
Recommended use:
- Hen of the woods 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. Hen of the woods 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!
Need log inoculation tools? Click here.
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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Hen of the woods will only fruit in oak logs. After a 1-year colonization period above ground, hen of the woods logs may be partially buried under 2 inches of top soil to mimic their natural place in an ecosystem. The mushrooms will fruit from logs and emerge out of the soil.
It should be noted that hen of the woods is prone to being out competed by other fungi and is not a reliable producer without first treating your logs. To limit variables we strongly suggest you sterilize 8" by 8" segments of oak log before inoculation and incubate your log segments for a few months in sealed filter patch bags until they are completely colonized. Remove them from the bag and partially bury them in a shady location. (You can sterilize your log segments in a 22 qt or larger pressure cooker such as an All-American.)
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- 12-24 months (logs)
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If you don't plan to use your Hen of the Woods sawdust spawn immediately, you can refrigerate it for up to 6 months.
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Hen of the woods has a semi-firm texture and earthy flavor. It can be ripped into small pieces and added to a dish or left large to be the centerpiece of a meal. We love to confit hen of the woods by slow cooking it at a low temperature in an oven submerged in extra virgin olive oil. After 4-5 hours the Hen of the Woods will be crispy and delicious and you'll have mushroom infused olive oil!
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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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