Shiitake Mushrooms
Notes
Once you have purchased a ready to fruit shiitake blocks you are ready to grow mushrooms! Below are the step-by-step directions. If you have further questions or comments, please contact us at fungially@gmail.com.
1.) place the shiitake kit in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours. If it is below 40 degrees outside, you can leave it outside for 24 hours.
2.) Cut the plastic bag off the shiitake block. Leave the plastic on the bottom so mushrooms will not fruit out of the bottom of the block. Place the block on a plate or baking sheet to hold excess water.
3.) Place the block in a well-lit room, but not in direct sunlight. Begin misting the block 3-4 times a day. Ideally the block should be in an environment with the humidity around 80%. You may place a loose transparent bag over the block to increase humidity. You can also place the block in a small open bin.
4.) After 3-4 days, mushrooms should begin to form on the block but will be very small. Continue to mist 3-4 times per day. After 4 more days mushrooms should form to full maturity. Harvest when the cap has moved far enough away from the stem so you can se the gills of the mushroom.
5.) All the block to rest for 2-3 weeks, no misting needed.
6.) Submerge the block in water for 5-10 hours. They are quite buoyant so you may need a brick or other heavy objects to keep it under water.
7.) Resume misting the block twice a day. Mushrooms should form in the next 7 days.
8.) Repeat steps 4-6 two or three times. The amount of mushrooms which fruit will decrease each time you submerge it. After fruiting 2-3 times, place the block outside and compost.