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Organic Shiitake Mushroom Outdoor Log Kit
Skill level | Beginner |
Grow location | Outdoors |
Spawn shelf life | 6 months (refrigerated) |
Incubation | 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. They colonize quickly and are the most reliable producers of any species.
Each outdoor log kit contains:
- A drill bit
- Log sealing wax
- A wax applicator
- 100 ct plug spawn or voucher
- Instruction guide
Note: Dowel may be fluted or spiral. Aside from being kiln dried, our wooden dowels are not treated in any other way.
Shiitake wood 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 |
That's not mold, it's mycelium!
Your kit includes plug spawn colonized with mushroom mycelium. It may appear covered with a soft, white, mold-like substance - that's the mushroom mycelium! It is completely normal. The mycelium of some species is more prominent than others.
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Ordering a log kit with a voucher allows you to redeem your plug spawn at a later date. Vouchers make a great gift and are good for projects beyond a 3 month start date.
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Ordering a kit with live spawn is best for projects that will be done within 3 months of ordering.
Plug spawn is living and perishable. It can live unrefrigerated for up to three months or refrigerated for up to 6 months.
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Shiitake works best with the log method. It will take at least 9-12 months of colonization before producing mushrooms and tends to fruit throughout the summer to fall growing season and after rainfalls. Preferred wood species are oak, maple, or beech.
For our complete plug spawn pamphlet, click here.
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If you don't plan to use immediately, you can refrigerate your spawn for up to 6 months.
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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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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.
*Recommendations are based on our own testing. You may have different results experimenting with other wood species.
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Good Service Friendly People
Smooth experience great education materials.
North Spore
We appreciate you, Ken! Thanks for your business.
First Timer
The hardest part was finding the oak! I just finished the logs and excited to see the results. The kit was very easy to use and had clear instructions.
North Spore
Thanks for the support, Jonathan! We’re so happy you’re enjoying the experience! The team is here if you ever need anything!
Log kit
Have not planted yet
North Spore
Our team is here to help if you need anything, Michael!
Good gifts for family
Ordered two of the voucher kits as Christmas gifts. Arrived quickly and my family appreciated the boxes. Here's to hoping they take well this spring when they finally get installed. Will update when interesting things happen.
North Spore
We really appreciate your support, Nathan! Our team is here to help if you need anything.
good
its great waiting is the hardest part
North Spore
Thanks, Charles! If you need help with anything, please reach out.
Log Kit
Love it. The only thing that sucks is waiting for them to fruit!
North Spore
Thanks, Mike! If you need help with anything, please reach out.
Spore kit
Very fun to do, we shall see if any yield! Exciting though
North Spore
Thanks for sharing, Leslie! If you need help with anything, please reach out.
Everything you need
This kit has everything needed for growing plug spawn. I love how easy it is to get your feet wet. We enjoyed it so much last year they we just ordered another 500 shitake plugs. I'm going to start some other varieties on logs soon, too.
Great Fun Product
Great gift and experience! Purchased for a Christmas gift and it was a hit. Every easy and user friendly. Highly recommend for anyone getting started.
Won't know for months if I did it right!
I drilled and pounded and sealed them all into logs. Now I watch and water and watch for months...hoping! It will be a long wait. The experience was as expected. Ask me again in 12-18 months!