Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
![]() |
Credit: Meaghanlr92 at Flickr |
Imagine going out into your own backyard and picking a fresh, homegrown Shiitake mushroom dinner. As you collect your mushrooms from the logs you have tended over the past year, the earthy aroma is a sensory delight. The cultivation of shiitake mushrooms provides a rewarding hobby and represents a journey toward sustainable living and culinary pleasure.
This guide will help you turn simple logs into a thriving shiitake mushroom farm that will provide you with a fresh supply of these delicious fungi. Growing shiitake mushrooms at home can be a very satisfying and delightful proposition for both practiced gardeners and inquisitive beginners.
![]() |
Credit: Everydayurbangardener |
Logs are a vital component for raising shiitake, so choosing the right logs is very important. Logs used for cultivation need to be freshly cut, have diameters of between 3-8 inches, and lengths of 3-4 feet. Fresh logs have less competing fungi than older ones, with those that have been cut in the previous six weeks being desirable. Late fall to early spring is the best time for cutting logs due to the low amount of sap during this dormant season.
![]() |
Credit: Matt & Diane at flickr |
![]() |
Credit: Jo Zimny Photos |
Now, find a good place to store your logs. A shaded and moist place will work perfectly. Definitely avoid direct sunlight, as it dries out the logs and makes conditions inhospitable for mushroom colonization.
![]() |
Credit: Jake Wimshurst |
Shiitake mycelium colonizes the logs within a few months to a year. Mycelium gradually enters the log, decomposing wood, and preparing it to produce mushroom. The logs should be maintained in a way that they stay moist during this time but out of direct sunlight.
![]() |
Credit: Ryan |
After the complete colonization of the logs by mycelium, you can then induce fruiting for the production of mushrooms. There are two main ways to induce fructification:
After soaking or shocking, return the logs to their shaded area, standing them upright or propping them against a backing of some kind. This orientation exposes more surface area of the log, allowing one to more easily monitor and harvest the mushrooms.
Within a week or two after induction of fruiting, mushrooms should begin to appear. Harvest by twisting gently and pulling when caps are open. Multiple fruiting can be encouraged by regular soaking throughout the life of the log.
Shiitake mushrooms are a delicacy, replete with good health for the immune system and in regard to cardiovascular health, plus depth of flavor with a rich umami taste in many dishes. Self-cultivation will ensure you have a fresh supply constantly on hand. This process will also help raise sustainable and pesticide-free mushrooms.