Growing Mushrooms at Home

[MissingWillow]

We've had shiitake mushroom logs for a few years now.  Once you get through the initial process of introducing the spores to your logs, they pretty much take care of themselves.  We purchased plug spores and drilled lots of holes in 3-4 foot lengths of dead white oak logs.  The spore plugs were inserted in the holes and then sealed with melted beeswax.  It took a year to get our first crop.



We keep the logs up off of the ground in a shady place by our back door where we can keep an eye on them.  My husband built them a swing of sorts under a bradford pear tree.



Once we notice the mushrooms sprouting, it takes about a week until they're ready to harvest.  These photos were taken a day apart across a few days to show how fast they grow.









This is our spring crop, we're expecting another in the fall.  They're a huge hit at our farmer's market and make a wonderful addition to risotto! 

[jillybeans]

Oh wow, how cool!  I bet they are a hit!  What do you do with the log now?  Do you put in new holes and new spores?

[MissingWillow]

Thanks Jill!  They just go back in the swing in the shade.  They will continue to fruit for years. 

[SonjaBoo]

Those are just beautiful! I had no idea that's how you grow mushrooms. Fascinating!

[LimeRiot]

Oh my gosh, MW!! Is there anything you can't grow?? I never knew that you could actually plant and harvest mushrooms. Neat!!

[MissingWillow]

Thanks!  We'll pretty much try growing anything at least once, LimeRiot.  We've learned a lot over the past few years.

[HSG]

Okay, now it is official! You're the coolest woman I know. Mushrooms are one of my favorites, and these look so yum.

[batgirl]

That's amazing! Can they be grown indoors? I want a farm...
I need to live the mushroom and alpaca lifestyle.

[mrsflibble]

awesome!

[MissingWillow]

That's amazing! Can they be grown indoors? I want a farm...
I need to live the mushroom and alpaca lifestyle.

I've heard of people keeping mushroom logs in a closet in their house.  I think the biggest issue is keeping them moist so it's probably more labor intensive.  They get rained on outside.