Shiitake

Lentinula edodes

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This showy, meaty shiitake strain is bursting with umami flavour. As a wide range shiitake, it can be force fruited by means of a 12-24 hour cold soak to initiate fruiting. Can be fruited every 8-10 weeks in the warm season, when daytime highs are over 20C (68F).

This variety has beautifully ornamented mid-size caps, and is quite versatile. As with all shiitake mushrooms it does very well on oak wood and hard maples, but we've found it also performs well on birch. Other suitable woods to use include alder, beech, and chestnut. Cut healthy logs during their dormant season, and inoculate in late winter through mid spring for best results.

Time to fruiting is roughly one year (though variable depending on type and size of logs used), with a fruiting lifespan of 4+ years if properly cared for. Keep logs in a shady location, and pay particular attention to moisture when mushrooms are forming. Harvest once the veil on the underside of the mushroom cap has just broken, but while it still has an inrolled rim. If these mushrooms over-ripen they're still fantastic for drying!

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For best results check out our instructions and videos on growing on logs!

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