Organic Shiitake Mushroom Plug Spawn
Skill level | Beginner |
Grow location | Outdoors |
Spawn shelf life | 6 months (refrigerated) |
Incubation | 9-12 months |
Fruiting temps | 55-70°F |
Best log type | See wood chart below |
Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is a nutritious mushroom that produces medium-to-large, brown, umbrella-shaped caps that tend to fruit throughout the summer to fall growing season. They are a delicious edible fungus from East Asia and their flavor is often described as rich, savory, buttery, and umami.
Shiitake tends to produce generous flushes and they are a great mushroom for beginners. They colonize quickly and are the most reliable producers of any species.
Note: Dowel may be fluted or spiral. Aside from being kiln dried, our wooden dowels are not treated in any other way.
Shiitake wood chart:
BEST WOOD SPECIES* | Alder, Beech, Hophornbeam, Hornbeam, Hard Maple, Oak, Sweetgum |
OTHER SUITABLE SPECIES | Basswood, Birch, Chestnut, Eucalyptus, Hickory, Soft Maple, Pecan, Sassafrass, Sycamore, Tuliptree, Tupelo, Willow |
AVOID | Ash, Aspen, Black Walnut, Cherry, Cottonwood, Elm, Hemlock, Peach, Pear, Pine |
Ideal project size:
Plug spawn is ideal for smaller projects of 1-10 logs, though some log cultivators will use them for larger projects.
That's not mold, it's mycelium!
Your kit includes plug spawn colonized with mushroom mycelium. It may appear covered with a soft, white, mold-like substance - that's the mushroom mycelium! It is completely normal. The mycelium of some species is more prominent than others.
-
To grow on logs using plug spawn, you will need a Drill Bit, Log Sealing Wax, and Wax Daubers.
-
Click here to download our pamphlet on growing mushrooms on logs, stumps, and totems.
-
Shiitake works best with the log method. Colonization takes at least 9-12 months, and fruiting tends to occur throughout the summer to fall growing seasons and after rainfalls. Preferred wood species are oak, maple, or beech.
For our complete plug spawn pamphlet, click here.
-
If you don't plan to use immediately, you can refrigerate your spawn for up to 6 months.
-
"5 of the Best Shiitake Mushroom Recipes"
Shiitake has a meaty texture when cooked and is good for drying and reconstituting in winter soups. It pairs beautifully with tamari, ginger, and garlic and can bring needed umami to many different dishes. These mushrooms are delicious sauteed and can be used in stir-fries, risottos, ramens, on pizzas, or simply eaten by themselves.
-
If you’re going to consume home-grown mushrooms, make sure to cook your fresh mushrooms thoroughly with heat. If it is your first time eating this species, it is best to start with a small amount to check for allergies, even if cooked.
*Recommendations are based on our own testing. You may have different results experimenting with other wood species.
You may also like
- Reviews
- Questions
Thank you for submitting a review!
Your input is very much appreciated. Share it with your friends so they can enjoy it too!
Great product
I purchased several hundred of these plugs and inoculated some oak logs. Colonization is happening faster than expected. Excellent product. I highly reccomend.
North Spore
We wish you the best of luck with your grow, John!
Wonderful results!
I bought my pack in July 2022. By the following October I had mushrooms and have ever since. We've decided to go ahead and add more logs and stumps to our collection. So excited!
North Spore
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience, Brittany! Your grow looks amazing, thanks for sharing the photos!
double-spaced diamond pattern experiment
First time with North Spore…affordable to experiment with. I ordered plugs of lion & shiitake, easily drilled, daubed wax sealed, piled in shady moist woods myself. LOVED the prompt online support, and appreciated DIY booklet including optimal times to harvest logs. I'm experimenting with 8” x 4” diamond pattern ( so that’s DOUBLING the recommended spacing of 4” apart, 2” between rows). My Goals =1. avoid competing mushroom crowding. 2. inoculate more logs to try some in beech, oak, and maple. -Kristen in NH
North Spore
Thanks so much for sharing, Kristen! Please reach out if you ever need anything.
High quality Shiitake plugs!
I have ordered these plugs twice and inoculated two sets of logs with amazing success, some one maple and most on oak. Definitely planning a new set of logs for next season!
North Spore
Thanks so much, Shawn! We’re so glad everything is working out for you.
Plug mushrooms
They went into the logs about a month ago. I told several others. They were very interested. So we are all waiting to see how it goes.
North Spore
Thanks for sharing, Dennis! Our team is here if you need anything.
Convenient
I loved working with this plug spawn. It really made quick work of a somewhat tedious job, and doesn't require specialized tools- great for the home grower.
North Spore
Thanks so much, Katie! We really appreciate the kind review.
Alder log Shitake
I just inoculated five fresh Alder logs cut two weeks ago with plug spawn (200 count). The 8.5mm cutter worked great! I used a rubber mallet to seat the plugs and then sealed them with the wax supplied using wife's crockpot. I sealed the ends of the logs as well. I placed the logs on a pallet in a shady spot. The Northspore online instructions were great! I hope to be harvesting Spring of 2025.
North Spore
Great pics, Michael! We’re so happy you’re enjoying the experience!
Shiitake plug Spawn
Plug spawn arrived and after only a couple days I could see clear signs it was quite alive. Better move fast if you leave it out of the fridge. By the time I finished a bag of 500 it was like mini marshmallows they were so alive!! Hopefully a good harvest some day. Not my first order and while I am new at this it will be my error for sure if they don’t produce because they were very healthy plug spawn.
North Spore
We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, Laurie! Please reach out if you ever need anything.
Haven’t set up
Weather too cold awaiting warmer weather.
North Spore
Thanks for sharing, June! You can tuck it away in your refrigerator until you’re ready! If you need help with anything, please reach out.
Excellent shiitake plugs
I have been using these plugs for several years. Excellent results!
North Spore
Thanks for sharing, Barry! We really appreciate your support!