Shitake Mushroom Cultivation: Flowering, Gathering, and Keeping
Shiitake mushrooms, a popular culinary delight, are cultivated with care and precision. Here's a step-by-step guide on how growers prepare and tend to shiitake logs.
Before a log begins producing mushrooms, growers notice several signs. The bark becomes elastic and spongy, the logs no longer "ring" when struck, and white mycelium appears on log ends. It's when the shiitake has colonized the outer cylinder of available sapwood that the logs are ready to fruit.
The fruiting process requires enough light to read a newspaper at arm's length. After mushrooms are harvested, the logs should be rested for one to three months. This resting period allows the logs to recover and store enough nutrients to form mushrooms again.
Temperature and moisture changes trigger the shiitake fungus to produce mushrooms. Ideal storage conditions for shiitake mushrooms in refrigeration are a temperature around 1 to 4 °C (34 to 39 °F) with high humidity, usually between 85% and 95%.
Shiitakes are picked by grasping the lower portion of the stem and pulling the mushroom from the log with a slight twisting motion. They should be picked when the cap is opened approximately 50-75%. Picked mushrooms should be cooled to 33-35 degrees Fahrenheit as rapidly as possible after picking.
Logs stacked outdoors can use a protective covering to minimize wind and rain, stabilize temperatures, and localize humidity around the logs. The length of soak depends on the air and water temperatures, the log's age, and the log's bark thickness.
Log shocking (or soaking) is often used for "forced fruiting". After logs are shocked, they are stacked for fruiting, normally using the high A-frame or lean-to configuration. Optimum temperatures for pinning are between 55-65 F with relative humidity of at least 85%.
The fruiting period usually lasts from one to two weeks. After recovery, logs can be soaked for another flush of mushrooms. A grower can extend the natural outdoor fruiting season by using different combinations of strains.
Plastic crates or baskets that are slatted on all sides are recommended for refrigerator storage. The storage life of shiitakes is highly dependent on temperature.
It's important to note that shiitake mushrooms develop independently on logs and need to be checked frequently for harvesting. Shocking can be done by various methods, such as using stock tanks. Log moisture content should be maintained from 30-40% to promote mycelial growth while inhibiting pinning.
When mushrooms appear, it indicates that the log has fully colonized. The length of the cultivation process, from inoculation to fruiting, can range from six to 24 months.
In summary, cultivating shiitake mushrooms involves careful monitoring of temperature, moisture, and light levels, as well as regular harvesting and resting periods for the logs. With the right conditions and care, growers can enjoy a bountiful harvest of these delicious mushrooms.
