Mushroom Logs

[carabao]

Watched a repeat River Cottage programme today, and they made mushroom logs. I'm no DIY, or would have access to fresh logs, but looked on tinternet, and found various companies that supply logs all ready to go.
Has anyone tried this ready made logs. The reviews seem hit and miss.
I have perfect place in the garden according to instructions.

 

[Leigh Robinson]

I have been interested in these too so they can help my fungi ID. I don't have any experience in using them so should be an interesting thread.

 

[mountainm]

You can also get treatments that you use on big phone books and toilet rolls. There were some kits on amazon.

 

[slowworm]

I have been interested in these too so they can help my fungi ID.

How do you know if the fungi are the ones you are expecting...

I've currently got 24 logs inoculated with various fungi, however not many fruiting bodies yet and it's been 2 years. Other people also seem to have had trouble actually getting the logs to fruit, even following the 'shocking' instructions (dunking in water, hitting them etc, etc).

I have had reasonable success growing oyster 'shrooms on toilet roll - that's quite easy and quick to produce results.

 

[swright81076]

We've got some spore dowels on order for our 'allotment', so will be following this thread.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

 

[Alreetmiowdmuka]

I watched the same repeat pal earlier.i was intrigued too

 

[Pikebite]

I have had reasonable success growing oyster 'shrooms on toilet roll - that's quite easy and quick to produce results.

How do you do that then?

 

[Kong]

but that takes all of the fun out of look ing for them in the woods and in the field

 

[slowworm]

How do you do that then?

With the toilet rolls you just soak in boiling water (taking care), cool, pop in a plastic bag, add spawn, seal and keep dark for a few weeks, chill for a couple of days to shock the fungi into fruiting and then wait for the 'shrooms. Plenty of places sell the spawn and provide instructions.

For logs you just select a fresh appropriate log, drill holes, hammer in spawn dowels, seal with cheese wax and leave them somewhere damp to infect and hopefully get fruit in a year or two.

Full instructions here (no connection etc): http://www.annforfungi.co.uk/shop/how-to/dowels-how-to-/cat_13.html

 

[HillBill]

I have 3 big logs on the go. Oyster, ****ake and Lions mane. They were white with Mycelium when i removed them from our cellar last spring, they are on the allotments now in a shady spot, but had nothing from them at all so far, there does't even look to be mycelium on them any more

 

[Paulm]

Got a mushroom kit box for xmas !

Was very easy and quick to sprout. Finished the first flush and now drying out and letting the box regenerate for a couple of weeks before soaking and watering again for a second flush, might get a third later as well if lucky

Cheers, Paul

 

[Nice65]

I have 3 big logs on the go. Oyster, ****ake and Lions mane. They were white with Mycelium when i removed them from our cellar last spring, they are on the allotments now in a shady spot, but had nothing from them at all so far, there does't even look to be mycelium on them any more

Double i in Shiitake

 

[HillBill]

Haha I didn't notice the forum had blanked it out

 

[rik_uk3]

Mate Nigel tried logs in his garden shed, no mushrooms on the logs but the wooden floor was covered with them lol.

 

[goodlife]

I have done logs several times, sometimes with great success and with some species total failure....oyster mushrooms being one of the easiest.
Where I did go 'wrong' at the beginning was...I didn't keep the logs long enough covered. Using fresh logs where there is plenty of moisture is essential..and after putting the dowels in they need wrapping with polythene..I just pop them in black bin liners..stack them up somewhere shady, like hedge bottom and forget them at least for 6 months.
If you do them now..keep them covered until autumn and when the weather start cooling down and turning damp..bring them 'out' to fruit.
One might have to keep checking them from time to time and splash the logs with water to keep moisture levels up..and you will soon see how mycelium start growing.

 

[woodstock]

We did one last year a Shiitake log" it was awesome we had about 4 flushes and it was only about £8 from this guy No connection. http://www.walesthetruetaste.co.uk/welshfoodanddrink/fruitandvegetables/org3249?lang=en