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Organic Shiitake Mushroom Sawdust Spawn
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| Skill level | Beginner |
| Grow location | Outdoors |
| Spawn shelf life | 6 months (refrigerated) |
| Bag weight | 5.5 lbs |
| Incubation | Logs: 6-12 months |
| Fruiting temps | 55-70°F |
| Best log type | See wood chart below |
Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is a flavorful mushroom that produces brown, medium-to-large, umbrella-shaped caps that fruit from late summer through the 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.
Recommended use:
- Shiitake sawdust spawn is only recommended for log projects.
- One bag of sawdust spawn will reliably inoculate up to 20 logs. (You can calculate how much you'll need here.)
Shiitake log chart:
| BEST WOOD SPECIES* | Alder, Beech, Hophornbeam, Hornbeam, Hard Maple, Oak, Sweetgum |
| OTHER SUITABLE SPECIES | Basswood, Birch, Chestnut, Eucalyptus, Hickory, Soft Maple, Pecan, Sassafrass, Sycamore, Tuliptree, Tupelo, Willow |
| AVOID | Ash, Aspen, Black Walnut, Cherry, Cottonwood, Elm, Hemlock, Peach, Pear, Pine |
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.
*Wood recommendations are based on our own testing. You may have different results experimenting with other wood species.