Shitake Yield Questions

 

This is related to my mushroom post of a few days ago. I'm growing
shitake mushrooms in oak log segments which are roughly 18" in
diameter and 9" high. This is about 1.3 cubic feet of wood. That's a
lot of wood to be turned into mushrooms; how long should I expect it
to keep producing fruit? And about how many pounds or ounces will it
yield in total? I know the answers depend on a lot of variables, but I
was just curious as to round number estimates.

Thanks,

Paul

 

In article


 I can't help you too much.  A few years ago we wrote about mushroom
culture here and I was recommended this  book.

 Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms.
  By Paul Stamets.

isbn-10: 1-58008-175-4

has MUCH info  on  SHITAKE   AKA  LENTINULA EDODES (BERKELEY) PEGLER

Book is a bit too much for my little brain but perhaps as a reference
and a visit to your local library.

 Bill who buys rooms and gathers them from my back yard .


ps Beautiful book  and I am glad you are venturing there.

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/757.html  What is Global Dimming??
 Less light more shade world wide food implications
 Reduction of Vitamin D too?

 


To answer my own question,

"Left to nature, a log will fruit for as many years as its diameter in
inches. Forced fruiting speeds crop production but also shortens the
productive life, since each log has a fixed available quantity of
nutrients, which, once exhausted, are gone."

from an excellent website on the subject:
http://www.shroomery.org/8531/Getting-a-Year-round-Harvest-from-Japanese-Fo=
rest-Mushrooms

Paul

 



To answer my own question,

"Left to nature, a log will fruit for as many years as its diameter in
inches. Forced fruiting speeds crop production but also shortens the
productive life, since each log has a fixed available quantity of
nutrients, which, once exhausted, are gone."

from an excellent website on the subject:
http://www.shroomery.org/8531/Getting-a-Year-round-Harvest-from-Japanese-Forest-Mushrooms

Paul

If you lose the bark on your logs the fruiting will stop. If you have cherry
wood (even wild cherry of choke cherry) consider inoculating a few logs.
Shiitake grown on cherry is highly prized in Japan.

That one year per inch rule is variable. Softer wood will be less, good
dense oak could be more.

There are now many strains of shiitake available. Check out
http://www.fieldforest.net/  . They have a good selection and are really nice
folks to deal with. I have no association with them other than being a
satisfied customer.
Steve

 



To answer my own question,

"Left to nature, a log will fruit for as many years as its diameter in
inches. Forced fruiting speeds crop production but also shortens the
productive life, since each log has a fixed available quantity of
nutrients, which, once exhausted, are gone."

from an excellent website on the subject:
http://www.shroomery.org/8531/Getting-a-Year-round-Harvest-from-Japanese-Forest-Mushrooms

Paul

---------------------------

These threads got me thinking about the dozen new oak stumps I have from
fallen and harvested timbers. I think I might try my hand at inoculating
them with a couple varieties of shrooms. Thanks for bringing this up.
Here's also a very good place for supplies and knowledge:
http://www.fungi.com/index.html

And of course NAMA, which is a treasure trove of info:
http://www.namyco.org/cultivation/links.html

Best of luck on your efforts Paul!

Steve Young