Mushrooms grow best on hardwoods, only Indian Oyster will grow on softwoods. Logs are best cut in the dormant season - when the leaves are off the trees. The sap sugars are then in the core of the tree and available for the mushrooms when the tree is dead. Some hardwoods are better than others.
Oak is generally the best wood for mushrooms with beech a close second. Slow growing oak from higher ground or from further North in Britain is harder and then smaller logs are more suitable. Birch is also good. The bark on beech is easily damaged so it needs careful handling.
Cutting or Buying Your Logs
The logs should be cut from healthy trees during the dormant season (from leaf fall in Autumn to just before the buds swell in Spring). Cut not more than 6 weeks before you inoculate. Keep logs from drying out by shading from direct sunlight and strong winds. The longer logs are left the greater the risk of contamination by other weed fungi. We use straight logs 10 to 15 cm diameter, up to a metre (40 inches) long. These are easily lifted and handled etc.. Smaller diameter logs dry out too quickly. Larger diameter logs are harder to handle and take longer to colonise.
The bark should be clean, free from earth and undamaged. Scars allow other fungi to invade and the log to lose moisture. Choose logs with as few branches as possible. Branches should be cut flush with the log surface and sealed with wax during the inoculation process.
If you are buying logs possible local sources include Tree Surgeons, Council Parks Dept., farmers, forest managers and fire wood merchants. Be clear about your requirements.
For an average 50 cm long log, 10 to 15 cm diameter use 10 to 15 dowels
e.g. 30 dowels, 2 or 3 logs of one type of mushroom
100 dowels 6 to 8 logs, 300 dowels 18 to 24 logs.
Only use one type of spawn per log.
Oak is generally the best wood for mushrooms with beech a close second. Slow growing oak from higher ground or from further North in Britain is harder and then smaller logs are more suitable. Birch is also good. The bark on beech is easily damaged so it needs careful handling.
Cutting or Buying Your Logs
The logs should be cut from healthy trees during the dormant season (from leaf fall in Autumn to just before the buds swell in Spring). Cut not more than 6 weeks before you inoculate. Keep logs from drying out by shading from direct sunlight and strong winds. The longer logs are left the greater the risk of contamination by other weed fungi. We use straight logs 10 to 15 cm diameter, up to a metre (40 inches) long. These are easily lifted and handled etc.. Smaller diameter logs dry out too quickly. Larger diameter logs are harder to handle and take longer to colonise.
The bark should be clean, free from earth and undamaged. Scars allow other fungi to invade and the log to lose moisture. Choose logs with as few branches as possible. Branches should be cut flush with the log surface and sealed with wax during the inoculation process.
If you are buying logs possible local sources include Tree Surgeons, Council Parks Dept., farmers, forest managers and fire wood merchants. Be clear about your requirements.
For an average 50 cm long log, 10 to 15 cm diameter use 10 to 15 dowels
e.g. 30 dowels, 2 or 3 logs of one type of mushroom
100 dowels 6 to 8 logs, 300 dowels 18 to 24 logs.
Only use one type of spawn per log.
There are no products in this category.