ShroomSpy

ShroomSpy

Background

How To Grow Shiitake at Home

Cultivation Supplies
Welcome to the world of shiitake mushroom cultivation! Dive into the fascinating realm of growing your own nutrient-rich fungi with ShroomSpy's comprehensive guide. Discover the health benefits of shiitake mushrooms, from immune-boosting properties to potential anti-inflammatory effects, and learn how to cultivate these delicious gems in the comfort of your own home. Whether you're a seasoned gardener looking to expand your repertoire or a novice enthusiast eager to embark on a new adventure, our step-by-step instructions and expert tips will empower you to nurture your own sustainable source of fresh, organic mushrooms. Join us on this exciting journey and unlock the secrets of growing shiitake mushrooms with confidence and success!
Shiitake

Natural Habitat

• Ecosystem:

Deciduous trees (particularly oak)

• Locations:

Asia, North America, Europe

• Seasons:

Spring to fall

• Climate:

Temperate

• Substrate:

Logs or sawdust

Growing Params

• Difficulty:

Moderate

• Total Time:

54 - 100 Days

• PH Range:

4.5 - 6

• Pref Suppl's:

Wheat Bran

Yield Performance

• Units:

% Weight of Substrate

• Poor:

20

• Average:

30

• Good:

40

• Excellent:

50

Culture Instructions

Agar Cultivation

Supplies Needed

  • • Agar Powder: Cellular medium for agar plates.
  • • Petri Dishes: Containers for pouring agar medium.
  • • Agar Jar: Narrow Mouth Jar with Sealing Lid is optimal.
  • • Parafilm: For Sealing the agar after innoculation. Grafting Tape is also sufficient.
  • • Scissors: Tool for cutting sealing tape to length.
  • • Stir Plate: Optional: Thorough mixing with sagenetic stirrir improves results by distributing nutrients evenly
  • • Nutrient Medium: Nutrition can be Light Malt Extract, Honey, Karo ext. For Mycelial Expansion.
  • • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the liquid culture medium to increase growth rates.
  • • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
  • • Pressure Cooker: Equipment for sterilizing agar mixture and Petri dishes.
  • • Scalpel or Innoculation Loop: Tool for transferring mycelium to agar plates.
  • • Alcohol Lamp or Burner: Sterilization tool for flame sterilizing instruments.

Growing Params

Recipe: MEA

Temperature Range:70 - 80 °F

CO2 Range:5000 - 10000 ppm

Growth Duration:9 - 15 Days

Cultivation Notes: Maintain sterile conditions during agar culture

Liquid Culture

Supplies Needed

  • • Sterile Jar: Clean container for liquid culture inoculation.
  • • Modified Lid: Lid should have a filter port for gas exchange. Syringe Port Optional.
  • • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
  • • Nutrient Medium: Nutrition can be Light Malt Extract, Honey, Karo ext. For Mycelial Expansion.
  • • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the liquid culture medium to increase growth rates.
  • • Pressure Cooker: Equipment for sterilizing liquid culture medium.
  • • Scalpel or Syringe: Tool for transferring mycelial mass to growth medium.
  • • Alcohol Lamp or Burner: Sterilization tool for flame sterilizing instruments.

Growing Params

Recipe: DYPLC

Temperature Range:70 - 80 °F

CO2 Range:5000 - 10000 ppm

Growth Duration:12 - 20 Days

Cultivation Notes: Maintain proper airflow and ventilation in the liquid cultureStir Daily

Agar Cultivation
  1. Prepare the agar medium by mixing agar powder with water according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  2. Autoclave the agar medium to sterilize it and let it cool to around 50°C.
  3. Pour the agar medium into sterile petri dishes, filling them about halfway full.
  4. Allow the agar to solidify in the petri dishes in a sterile environment, such as a laminar flow hood.
  5. Using a sterile technique, transfer a small piece of shiitake mushroom tissue onto the agar surface in each petri dish.
  6. Seal the petri dishes with parafilm or tape to prevent contamination.
  7. Incubate the petri dishes at the appropriate temperature for shiitake mushroom mycelium growth, typically around 25-28°C.
  8. Monitor the petri dishes for signs of mycelium growth, which may appear as white, cottony growth spreading from the tissue.
  9. Once the mycelium has fully colonized the agar medium, you can use it to inoculate your substrate for fruiting.
Liquid Culture Cultivation
  1. Prepare the liquid culture medium by mixing water, malt extract, and agar in a sterilized container.
  2. Autoclave the liquid culture medium to sterilize it and kill any contaminants.
  3. Allow the liquid culture medium to cool down to room temperature before proceeding.
  4. In a sterile environment, transfer a small piece of mycelium from a fully colonized agar plate into the liquid culture medium.
  5. Seal the container with a breathable lid or cover to allow for gas exchange.
  6. Incubate the liquid culture at the optimal temperature for shiitake mushroom mycelium growth, typically around 75-80°F (24-27°C).
  7. Monitor the liquid culture for signs of growth, such as cloudiness or mycelium strands forming in the medium.
  8. Once the liquid culture is fully colonized with mycelium, it is ready to be used for inoculating substrate for mushroom cultivation.

Spawn Instructions

Supplies Needed

  • • Mason Jars or Bags: Containers for sterilizing and inoculating grains.
  • • Modified Lid: Lid should have a filter port for gas exchange. Syringe Port Optional.
  • • Grains: Substrate material for spawn inoculation. (e.g. Rye, Millet)
  • • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
  • • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the grain medium to increase growth rates.
  • • Pressure Cooker: Equipment for sterilizing grain substrate.
  • • Inoculation Tool : Tool for transferring colonized spawn to substrate. (e.g. Scalpel, Syringe)
  • • Alcohol Lamp or Burner: Sterilization tool for flame sterilizing instruments.

Growing Params

Spawn Material: Whole Oats

Temperature Range:70 - 80 °F

Moisture Content:49 - 55 %

Fresh Air Exchange:0 - 1 / Hour

CO2 Range:5000 - 10000 ppm

Growth Duration:14 - 21 Days

Grain Spawn Prep and Innoculation
  1. Prepare your work area by cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces and equipment to prevent contamination.
  2. Gather your supplies, including sterilized grain spawn bags, a pressure cooker, shiitake mushroom spawn, and a clean work area.
  3. Fill the pressure cooker with water and bring it to a boil.
  4. Place the sterilized grain spawn bags in the pressure cooker and cook them at the recommended temperature and pressure for the specified time to sterilize them.
  5. Allow the grain spawn bags to cool to room temperature before inoculating them with shiitake mushroom spawn.
  6. Open the shiitake mushroom spawn package and carefully inoculate each grain spawn bag with a small amount of spawn, making sure to distribute it evenly.
  7. Seal the grain spawn bags and mix the spawn thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
  8. Label the bags with the date of inoculation and any other relevant information.
  9. Place the inoculated grain spawn bags in a warm, dark area to allow the mycelium to colonize the substrate.
  10. Check the bags regularly for signs of contamination or growth, and adjust the environment as needed to promote healthy mycelium growth.
  11. Once the grain spawn bags are fully colonized, they are ready to be used to inoculate your substrate for growing shiitake mushrooms.

Substrate Instructions

Supplies Needed

  • • Substrate Mix: Substrate material for mushroom growth. (e.g., Sawdust, Wood Chips, Fast Fruiting Mix, Brown Rice)
  • • Suppliments: Suppliments not required, but can sometimes be added to the grain medium to increase growth rates.
  • • Substrate Container: Polypropylene Bags or Plastic Containers for sterilizing and inoculating substrate.
  • • Mycelial Mass: Typically Colonized Grain Jars or Liquid Culture for inoculation.
  • • Clean Environment: Flow Hood is optimal, but a still air box can be used.
  • • Pressure Cooker or Steam Sterilizer: Equipment for sterilizing substrate.

Growing Params

Substrate: Hardwood Sawdust

Sub to Spawn Ratio: 3:1

Sub to LC Ratio: 4ml/qt

Temperature Range:70 - 80 °F

Humidity Range:95 - 100 RH

Fresh Air Exchange:0 - 1 / Hour

CO2 Range:5000 - 10000 ppm

Growth Duration:14 - 21 Days

Substrate Prep and Innoculation
  1. Prepare the substrate by mixing hardwood sawdust with wheat bran in a ratio of 5:1.
  2. Moisten the substrate mixture until it reaches a moisture content of around 60-70%.
  3. Fill sterilized bags with the substrate mixture, leaving some space at the top for inoculation.
  4. Inoculate the substrate with shiitake mushroom spawn by evenly distributing it throughout the substrate.
  5. Seal the bags with a filter patch or micropore tape to allow for gas exchange.
  6. Incubate the inoculated bags in a dark, warm (75-80°F) environment for 2-3 weeks to allow the mycelium to colonize the substrate.
  7. Check the bags regularly for contamination and ensure proper moisture levels are maintained.
  8. Once the substrate is fully colonized with mycelium, move the bags to a cooler (55-60°F), well-ventilated area to induce fruiting.
  9. Mist the bags regularly to maintain humidity and wait for shiitake mushrooms to start growing.
  10. Harvest the shiitake mushrooms when they reach the desired size, typically within 1-2 weeks of initiating fruiting conditions.

Primordia Instructions

Supplies Needed

  • • Fruiting Chamber: Controlled environment chamber for pinning and fruiting.
  • • Control Automation: Optional. Controller and sensors for maintaining temperature, humidity, lighting ext.
  • • Casing Layer: Optional. Species Dependant. Humidification material for maintaining humidity in the fruiting chamber.
  • • Hygrometer: Instrument for measuring humidity levels.
  • • Humidifier: Optional. Could be spray bottle or humidifer. Tool for misting and humidifying the fruiting chamber.

Growing Params

Casing Layer: None

Temperature Range:50 - 60 °F

Humidity Range:95 - 100 RH

Light Wave Length:370 - 420 nm

Light Intensity:500 - 2000 Lux

Light Duration: 12 Hours/Day

Fresh Air Exchange:4 - 7 / Hour

CO2 Range:0 - 1000 ppm

Growth Duration:5 - 7 Days

Cultivation Notes: Maintain high humidity and provide indirect light

Primordia Initiation
  1. Prepare a clean and sanitized growing area with proper humidity and temperature control.
  2. Inoculate the substrate with shiitake mushroom spawn, ensuring even distribution.
  3. Cover the inoculated substrate with a layer of casing material, such as peat moss or vermiculite.
  4. Maintain high humidity levels (around 90%) and optimal temperature (around 75-80°F) to encourage primordia formation.
  5. Monitor the substrate for signs of primordia initiation, which will appear as small pin-like structures.
  6. Continue to maintain ideal growing conditions and provide proper air circulation to support primordia development.
  7. Harvest the shiitake mushrooms once the primordia have fully developed into mature mushrooms, typically within 7-10 days of initiation.

Fruiting Instructions

Supplies Needed

  • • Fruiting Chamber: Controlled environment chamber for fruiting.
  • • Temperature Control System: Equipment for maintaining optimal fruiting temperatures.
  • • Fresh Air Exchange System: System to provide adequate fresh air exchange in the fruiting chamber.
  • • Light Source: Light source to provide required illumination for fruiting. (e.g., LED Grow Light)
  • • Harvesting Tools: Tools for harvesting mushrooms without damaging the mycelium. (e.g., Knife, Scissors)

Growing Params

Temperature Range:50 - 70 °F

Humidity Range:60 - 80 RH

Light Wave Length:370 - 420 nm

Light Intensity:500 - 2000 lux

Light Duration: 12 Hours/Day

Fresh Air Exchange:4 - 8 / Hour

CO2 Range:0 - 1000 ppm

Growth Duration:5 - 8 Days

Flushes:3 - 4

Flushing Schedule:14 - 21 Days

Cultivation Notes: Maintain high humidity and provide indirect light

Fruiting Preparation and Conditions
  1. Prepare a fruiting chamber by cleaning and sanitizing it thoroughly to prevent contamination.
  2. Fill the fruiting chamber with a substrate such as sawdust or straw that has been inoculated with shiitake mushroom spawn.
  3. Maintain the fruiting chamber at a temperature of around 55-75°F with high humidity levels (around 90%).
  4. Provide indirect light to the fruiting chamber, as shiitake mushrooms prefer low light conditions.
  5. Mist the substrate regularly to keep it moist, but be careful not to oversaturate it.
  6. Monitor the growth of the shiitake mushrooms, which should start to appear within a few weeks.
  7. Harvest the shiitake mushrooms when they reach the desired size, typically around 3-4 inches in diameter.