Your log is a living organism. The Shiitake mycelia cells are growing constantly, replacing the wood cells with their own cells. The cells need air, water, and light to grow. Every two months you can force-fruit your log - fool it into thinking it's the spring or fall rainy season - by soaking it for 24 hours in ice water. First the log will "pin,” meaning little white buds will break through the bark. The pins fill out, or fruit, into beautiful brown mushrooms. At first you may get only a few 'shrooms, but as the mycelia fill the log, and the log is fruited regularly, you'll get more production. In the second or third year, your log can be covered with mushrooms.
How to care for your log:
Stand the log up in a shaded area. The log can be set against a fence, wall or planted by burying one end of it in the ground. It will look great in a garden among flowers and other plants, especially once the mushrooms begin to sprout.
Douse the log with cool water every time the bark becomes dry. Every 2 weeks will do. The ideal moisture level for mushroom growth is between 35 and 45 percent, Never allow the logs to dry out completely, or the mushrooms will die. Mushrooms should begin to show through in 10 to 12 weeks, depending on the temperature and humidity of your climate.
Wait for 6 months to 1 year for mushrooms to appear. A well colonized log will last about 3 to 4 years, until most of the wood cells have been replaced by shiitake mushroom mycelium cells.
After first fruiting, it can be forced every 2 months by shocking the mushrooms with ice cold water. This can be done by soaking the log in cold water for 24 hours, put into a refrigerator for 12 hours or set outside for a few days in the winter. Freezing will not hurt it. After shocking, remove the log from the water and stand it up again in a room temperature location. The mushrooms will think that winter has just passed and it is now spring, causing them to grow in a few weeks.
Tips & Warnings
The optimum temperature is 62 to 78 degrees F. The mushrooms will grow in other temperatures, but not as well. The log will go dormant below 40 degrees F and above 80 degrees F. Freezing for a short while won't hurt and provide a strong shock to force the mushrooms to fruit. It also needs air, normal or high humidity, and a natural day and night cycle, alternating between shade and indirect sunlight or artificial lighting.
Harvest shiitake mushrooms when the edges of the mushroom cap are rolled under and the gills are exposed. Cut the stems flush with the surface of the log with scissors or a knife.NEVER PLUCK OUT! Store right away in plastic container and refrigerate. If they dry out, just soak them for 30 minutes, and they'll bounce right back. You can blanche or saut shiitakes and then freeze them, and they'll stay tasty and tender for months.
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