Mushroom Spawn Plugs – Shiitake China High Yield (Lentinula edodes Hi Yeild strain) Approx. 600-700 qty plugs

Description

Shiitake (HI-SHI Strain) Spawn Plugs Cultivation Guide

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) HI-SHI is a premium, heavy-yielding commercial strain celebrated for its explosive production and robust, high-quality fruitbodies. It produces beautiful, uniform, dark-brown umbrella caps packed with a rich, smoky, and buttery umami flavour.

The HI-SHI strain is highly favoured by commercial growers and hobbyists alike for its aggressive colonisation speed and outstanding biological efficiency. While it requires 9–12 months for the fast-running mycelium to fully colonise the wood, a well-managed log will keep cropping heavily for 3–5 years.

The HI-SHI strain is an exceptional all-season performer that handles a broad fruiting range (10–21°C). However, to achieve its maximum yield potential and premium aesthetic—dense, thick caps with stunning white scales—try to target its optimal fruiting sweet spot below 18°C.

(Out of stock? Please allow 2–4 weeks for shipping.)

🛠️ Quick Gear Checklist

• Fresh Hardwood Logs: Oak (white or red) is the absolute gold standard and yields the heaviest, longest-lasting crops. Sweetgum, maple, poplar, and birch also work incredibly well.

  • ❌ Avoid: Evergreen conifers/softwoods, hickory (too slow), and beech (inconsistent). * Logs should be 10–20 cm in diameter and ~1 meter long.

• Shiitake HI-SHI Spawn Plugs: Wooden dowels fully colonised with this ultra-prolific, high-yield Shiitake mycelium.

• Drill & Bit: Sized to match the plug diameter for a tight, snug fit.

• Waxing Kit: Food-grade wax, an old pot, and a paintbrush.

🪵 Step-by-Step Process

1. Age the Wood (4–6 Weeks)

• Crucial: Do not inoculate right away! Freshly cut wood contains natural anti-fungal compounds that inhibit mycelial growth.

• Let the logs rest off the ground in a shady spot for 4–6 weeks until these compounds completely degrade. Keep the wood moist by hosing it down regularly (daily in hot summer, 1–2 times a week in cooler months).

2. Inoculate & Seal

• Drill: Drill holes in a staggered diamond pattern all over the log, spacing them 5–10 cm apart, to a depth of 1.5 times the plug length. Plan for roughly 50 plugs per meter-long log.

• Insert: Hammer the HI-SHI plugs into the pre-drilled holes until they sit completely flush with the bark layer.

• Wax: Melt the wax and paint over every single plug hole and both cut ends of the log. This seals in the critical internal moisture needed for successful colonisation.

3. Incubation (9–12 Months)

• Place the log back in a deeply shaded, damp outdoor spot out of harsh winds.

• Never let it dry out! The HI-SHI strain is an exceptionally fast incubator but relies entirely on high internal log moisture. Hose the logs down thoroughly during dry weather to keep them heavily hydrated.

🌤️ Environment & The “Force-Fruiting” Shock

Once the incubation period is complete and you notice white mycelium patterns cracking through the sapwood on the log ends, your HI-SHI log is ready to be forced into production!

🔪 Harvesting & Ongoing Care

• When to Pick: Harvest when the umbrella caps have opened up about 70–80%, showing the edges slightly rolled under, but before the caps flatten out completely and release white spores.

• How to Pick: Grab the stem close to the bark, twist firmly, and pull cleanly away. (Note: Shiitake stems are very fibrous and tough—slice them off before cooking and save them to simmer into rich savoury broths or sauces!).

• The Rest Period: After a heavy harvest, the high-yield HI-SHI strain needs a rest period of 6–8 weeks to let the mycelium recover and digest more wood nutrients before you can force-soak it again.

• Long-Term Longevity: Keep your logs entirely out of direct sunlight and protect the outer bark layer from taking damage. A healthy oak log inoculated with HI-SHI will produce abundant, high-yield flushes up to 6–12 times a year for up to 5 years!

**Please keep in the fridge until you’re ready to use them.

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

Dimensions: 8mm diameter. Recommended 8.5mm drill bit when preparing logs.