Mushroom Grow Kit – Shiitake (Lentinula Edodes)

Description

🪵 Shiitake Ready-to-Grow Mushroom Kit Guide

Get ready for one of the fastest-fruiting mushrooms we offer! We incubate our Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) blocks for a minimum of 8 to 12 weeks before shipping, so they are bursting with energy and ready to fruit almost as soon as they arrive at your door.

What you will need to start:

• A large bucket or 30-50L plastic storage container (to act as your fruiting terrarium).

• A “waterproof table” for the mushroom block to sit on (e.g., a clean brick or an overturned plastic lunch container).

Not ready to start right away? You can store your unopened kit in the fridge, but it must be kept strictly between 1-2°C. If your fridge is any warmer, the Shiitakes can actually start fruiting right inside the bag! Because they are so eager to grow, we highly recommend starting your kit as soon as you receive it for the absolute best results.

🛠️ Getting Started: Prep & The “Cold Shock”

Shiitakes need a cold shock to wake them up and trigger them to fruit! Even if you already see little mushrooms pushing through the bag when it arrives, you still need to complete these steps (just move quickly!).

• Step 1: Open & Fill – Take your kit bag out of the cardboard box. Open the top of the plastic bag and fill it with cold tap water until the entire brown block is submerged.

• Step 2: The Cold Shock – Place the water-filled bag into your fridge for 5 to 10 hours to cold shock the block. (Crucial tip: Don’t soak it for too long, or the block will get waterlogged!)

• Step 3: Drain – Remove the bag from the fridge and drain all the water out into your sink or garden.

• Step 4: Unbag the Block – Completely remove the mushroom block from the plastic bag. You will notice it has a dark brown, bark-like skin—this is normal!

🌤️ Setting Up Your Fruiting Container

• Step 5: Create the Terrarium – Place your “waterproof table” (brick/plastic container) into the bottom of your large bucket or 30-50L tub.

• Step 6: Add Humidity – Add about 0.5cm of water to the bottom of the tub. This will evaporate and keep the environment humid, but your “table” will ensure the mushroom block stays safely out of the sitting water.

• Step 7: Position the Block – Sit your bare Shiitake block on top of your waterproof table.

• Step 8: Manage Airflow – Place the lid on your container but leave air gaps. If using a tub, give the lid a 1/4 turn so there is a gap in each corner. If using a bucket, stretch cling wrap over the top but leave 20% of it open so fresh air and light can get in.

• Step 9: Misting Routine – Mist the walls of your container 1 to 3 times per day. You can also mist the block itself 1 to 2 times a day until pins start to form. Once baby mushrooms appear, stop spraying the block directly!

🍄 Ideal Growing Environment & FAQs

• Light: Keep your container somewhere with shaded light (enough light to easily read a book by). Mushrooms need light to develop their color and for Vitamin D! If you lock them in a dark cupboard, they will become malnourished and look like pale, stringy aliens from a sci-fi thriller.

• Block Shrinkage: The substrate block is the mushroom’s food source. It is completely normal for the block to get smaller after each harvest as the mushrooms consume it!

🔪 Harvesting Your Shiitakes

Harvest all the mushrooms on the block at the same time.

• Perfect time to pick: Harvest when the mushroom caps are nice and round, and the outer edges are still curling downwards.

• A little overgrown (but still edible): The caps have flattened out slightly, but the edges are still pointing down.

• Too late (Do not eat): The edges of the caps have curled completely upwards and are releasing heavy spores.

♻️ Preparing for Your Next Flush!

Shiitake blocks are incredible because they yield multiple flushes if treated right.

1. The Dry Rest: After you harvest all your mushrooms, leave your bare block somewhere dry to rest for approximately 6 weeks. During this time, it will fully dry out.

2. Restart the Cycle: Once the 6 weeks are up, head back to Step 1! Put the dry block back into a plastic bag, fill it with cold water, and soak it in the fridge for 5-10 hours to cold shock it all over again.

Please note this culture is sold with our Mushroom Spawn and Cultures sale agreement. By purchasing you agree to this agreement