Harvest time

[Reagan]

The heavy rain this summer has kicked the shiitake mushrooms into gear. I harvested about 2.75 pounds this weekend.

 

[dipper]

What kind are those?

 

[Reagan]

The heavy rain this summer has kicked the shiitake mushrooms into gear. I harvested about 2.75 pounds this weekend.

View attachment 5862

 

[Reagan]

I don't know why but one log produced a bunch while the others only had a few or nothing at all.

 

[SD51555]

Nice work!

 

[Reagan]

My morell hunting has not produced much in the last 5-6 years. I thought what the hell, I'll "farm" some mushrooms. It has been a learning process but I am better prepared the next time I plant.

 

[Reagan]

Another flush of shiitake. I cut 3.1 pounds today. A pound yesterday and probably still have another one of two coming.

 

[SD51555]

Nice! How did you get them to grow?

 

[Reagan]

My neighbor had a red oak cut down during the winter of 2013--2014. I cut some large branches from the crown, and planted with shiitake spores.

You can buy everything from here.
https://www.mushroompeople.com

I used the plug style. Just drilled holes all around the log, tapped the plug into place and put a little cheese wax on it to keep from drying out. Set logs aside and wait. First shrooms show up in 6-9 months and get even better at 12-18 months. I did soak the logs last summer/fall when we had little rain.

I've read online that other kinds of hardwoods can possibly be used. It is best to take the tree down in the winter and plant before spring. Depending on the log, these may produce for a few years.

 

[wiscwhip]

Do you try to harvest the spores, or do you just buy new ones each time?

 

[Reagan]

Do you try to harvest the spores, or do you just buy new ones each time?

This is the first time I have grown them so I purchased the spores. Sometimes when I pick mushrooms I will see what looks like a dust coming off of them. I'm guessing that is spores. I'm not sure how to capture that and apply it to fresh wood.

For me the hard part will be getting more oak. I don't cut them on my property. I may try growing them on maple since I have an abundance of that. If I do, I will buy the same spores so I can see how they produce on a different kind of wood.

 

[Reagan]

Harvested another 2.5 pounds today.

I have one dehydrator loaded up, some ready to give away, and some to eat. I may need to find other options for long term storage.

 

[SD51555]

How do they stack up for flavor when they're fresh like that?

 

[Reagan]

How do they stack up for flavor when they're fresh like that?

I have eaten the fresh ones in ommlettes, with steak, grilled, on pizza, hamburgers, salad etc.

This is my first time drying them. I've read that I need to dry them until they are cracker dry and then store in a jar. They are supposed to reconstitute very well. We shall see.

 

[SD51555]

I made that mistake when I bought some from the store. They were dried down about half way (not sure if that was by design) and I just tossed them in some eggs and it was like eating bark. I've heard soups are a good place for dried shrooms.

 

[Reagan]

Try soaking them in warm water then putting in your eggs. I think they need about 30 minutes soak and they are as good as new.

 

[ruskbucks]

I will have to try this, pretty impressive. I have grown portabella's and buttons in the box kits and have had them do well. I dry a lot of the hen of the woods we find because one mushroom can weigh up to five pounds. I soak them in warm water for about 15 minutes, they are decent this way but can't come close to cooking them fresh right after they are picked.

 

[Reagan]

Do you try to harvest the spores, or do you just buy new ones each time?

I may try this out.

http://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/mushroom-spawn-cardboard.html

 

[SD51555]

That'd be neat. If you give it a whack, keep us posted.

 

[Reagan]

I returned from my Colorado fly fishing trip to find another flush of fruit. I haven't had a chance to harvest and weigh them yet but it looks like I may have another 5 pounds.


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