Dunking shiitake logs

[homegrownbucks]

We have been growing shiitakes for quite a few years but are trying some new techniques, specifically dunking them in cold water for 24 hours to induce fruiting, looks like it works!

 

[wiscwhip]

Just curious, do you "dunk" them before or after the spores are introduced to the wood? It seems like many of the spores could possibly be washed away if you soak them afterwards?

 

[homegrownbucks]

After for sure, actually these have been have been inoculated for about a year and had produced already naturally. This is just to force a flush once producing.

 

[Reagan]

That is what I did a year ago to jump start my first shiitake production. I have not dunked them this year since we have had a lot of rain. Check out my harvest time thread. It is a good to see another shiitake guy on here.


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[Jim Timber]

What kind of tree is your host?

I want to get into shrooming, but I fear without a shelter to do it in we'd just feed the critters.

 

[Reagan]

Mine was a red oak. I have deer come into my yard and eat tomatoes but I have not seen any evidence of them eating the shrooms. Squirrels don't seem to bother them or coons.

My biggest problems have been slugs. At least that is what I call the slimy bastards. They will eat holes right through them. I went out one night with a flashlight and a salt shaker and thinned the herd. I haven't had as many problems since then. The colder weather has probably slowed them down too.


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[Jim Timber]

What about mice and bears?

We don't have a lot of bear activity, but they do come around somewhat regularly. Mice on the other hand; we have in spades.

 

[Reagan]

I can't help you with the bear question.

I'm sure we have mice running around outside. When we had a mouse issue in the house a few years back, I was setting traps and catching them under my deck. It was a preemptive strike. I haven't trapped them outside since then and see no evidence of them eating anything.


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[Jim Timber]

My property has lots of shroom activity. Several I can't identify (haven't tried too hard). No real evidence of anything eating the shelf mushrooms and various other's on downed logs. I don't have morels last very long, so I'm thinking something's out there eating them.

If I get into shiitake, it'd be for profit so I want a clean operation.

 

[Reagan]

I think it could be done. I'll post my harvest totals on my thread when I get a chance to add up the numbers. Water will be the most important thing. Forced fruiting so you get a consistent crop is what buyers are looking for. At least according to what I have read.

I think you can buy something made from ground seashells that would keep the slugs off the logs. I can't think of what it is called.


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[wiscwhip]

I think you can buy something made from ground seashells that would keep the slugs off the logs. I can't think of what it is called.

I cannot remember the name of the product, but you are correct. The ground seashells will cause the slugs to get shredded from all the minute sharp edges when they crawl across the treated area. I have heard of this being used in other areas for similar applications. Now that I think about it, I'm about 99% sure it is called diatomaceous earth, literally it is ground up ancient seashell and coral reef material extracted much the same way they get lime products. A lot like high-mag limestone.

 

[Reagan]

I cannot remember the name of the product, but you are correct. The ground seashells will cause the slugs to get shredded from all the minute sharp edges when they crawl across the treated area. I have heard of this being used in other applications for similar applications. Now that I think about it, I'm about 99% sure it is called diatomaceous earth, literally it is ground up ancient seashell and coral reef material extracted much the same way they get lime products. A lot like high-mag limestone.

That is it. I tired googling it but my terribly spelled version was not even close.

I plan to move my logs and reorganize my set up for the winter. I will buy some it and be ready for them next spring.


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[Jim Timber]

I've been thinking of a temperature controlled environment with both humidity and sunlight and high log density for optimal production volume. :D But then, I'm an industrial guy like that. The up-side would be lack of outside contamination and shrink (retail term for theft losses).

I really should just inoculate some logs right now and let them go where I know they'd get moisture out of the ground and start small, but that's not how my brain works. I think I will get an order of spores though. If I'm not going to see fruiting until next summer, there's no reason not to plug some wood now and passively wait it out.

Who do you guys get spores from?

 

[wiscwhip]

That is it. I tired googling it but my terribly spelled version was not even close.

I plan to move my logs and reorganize my set up for the winter. I will buy some it and be ready for them next spring.


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I also figured out where I had heard of this before, people use this to rid themselves and their animals of intestinal parasites(worms) by directly ingesting food-grade diatomaceous earth or mixing it with other foodstuffs. It works much the same way as with the slugs, the tiny sharp edges cut and shred the parasites until they eventually die off.

 

[Reagan]

I've been thinking of a temperature controlled environment with both humidity and sunlight and high log density for optimal production volume. :D But then, I'm an industrial guy like that. The up-side would be lack of outside contamination and shrink (retail term for theft losses).

I really should just inoculate some logs right now and let them go where I know they'd get moisture out of the ground and start small, but that's not how my brain works. I think I will get an order of spores though. If I'm not going to see fruiting until next summer, there's no reason not to plug some wood now and passively wait it out.

Who do you guys get spores from?

I think we officially hijacked the OP thread.

I bought mine from Mushroompeople.com. They had a helpful website and spores when I needed them.

Cut your logs in the winter. I read there or somewhere else that you want dormant trees for optimum energy. You also want them on the ground for couple of weeks before inoculating. That allows the natural tree defense against fungus to die down. My tree was cut down in January or February. I planted in March I think. Production really kicked into gear since August.




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[Jim Timber]

I have lots of logs that have been down for a year or more, but don't already have competing fungus in them. At my place if it's in contact with the ground, it's got mushrooms. The top soil stays very moist to wet here. That's part of why I want an isolated grow house, because I have spore's galore from the natives.

Mushroompeople has been one of the sites I've been eyeing up.

 

[Jim Timber]

Ok, I ordered 510 and 910 kits today. Let the fun(gi) begin. :eek: :D