Organic Shiitake Mushroom Plug Spawn

100 plugs
$19.99

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Difficulty: Beginner

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. They colonize quickly and are the most reliable producers of any species.

Tools you'll need

To grow on logs using plug spawn, you will need:
• Drill Bit
• Sealing Wax
• Wax Daubers

To calculate how much spawn you will need, click here.

Cultivation

Ideal project size: Plug spawn is ideal for smaller projects of 1-10 logs, though some log cultivators will use them for larger projects.

Click here for full instructions

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. For the full log compatibility chart, click here.

How to grow is more challenging than finding the perfect log, though. Growing mushrooms using the log method requires dedication and patience whether it’s shiitake or any other type. 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.

Storing

If you don't plan to use within 3 weeks, you may refrigerate the plug spawn for up to 6 months.

Cautions & Considerations

• 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.

• Aside from being kiln dried, our wooden dowels are not treated in any other way.

FAQs

Plug Spawn FAQ 

Log Cultivation FAQ

Cooking

Shiitake 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.

Related Articles

Get the Right Tools
Emboss-o-tag
Emboss-o-tag (+$15.99)

Keep track of your species

Log Inoculation Drill Bit
Log Inoculation Drill Bit (+$21.99)

The perfect size for our plugs

Angle Grinder Adapter
Angle Grinder Adapter (+$54.99)

Allows 4x faster drilling

Log Sealing Wax
Log Sealing Wax (+$3.50)

1/4 lb - enough for 100 plugs

Wax Daubers
Wax Daubers (+$2.99)

4-pack

Frequently Asked Questions

After inoculation, most logs take 6–12 months before producing their first flush of mushrooms. Colonization depends on temperature, moisture, and wood type. Once established, a log can fruit for 3–7 years.

Always use freshly cut, disease-free logs. Old or rotting wood may contain competing fungi or be too dry for successful colonization. Ideally, inoculate within 2–4 weeks of cutting.

Plug spawn (wooden dowels) is easier for beginners and ideal for smaller projects. Sawdust spawn is faster to colonize and more economical for larger batches or commercial growers.

Store logs in a shady, humid area close to the ground. In dry or hot weather, occasional watering or soaking can help maintain moisture. Avoid full sun or windy spots, which can cause bark cracking.

Cluster of brown-capped mushrooms with long, light-colored stems against a white background.

Your Trusted Source for Premium Mushroom Growing Supplies

Whether you’re growing mushrooms at home, in your garden, or at a commercial scale, we offer everything you need to cultivate success. We start with the highest-quality OMRI-listed ingredients, mix them in our state-of-the-art facility, and inoculate them in our custom-built lab, so you can rest easy knowing your product will yield the best results.

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