How to Grow Shiitake Mushrooms in a Continental Climate

Continental areas are locations that have seasonal changes, with warm summers and cold winters. These areas include the Midwest and Northeast regions of the United States. The climates shared by these regions are conducive to growing shiitake mushrooms because of their constant exposure to moisture and available forests. Shiitake mushroom production also works well with the regions' forest management practices, because live trees that are culled can then be turned into shiitake mushroom "incubators."

Goggles
Gloves
Bow saw
25 wooden plugs inoculated with shiitake mushroom mycelium
Drill
Drill bit, 3/16 inch
Rubber mallet
Coffee can
Saucepan that can hold coffee can
Cheese wax
Turkey baster
Chlorine-free water or rainwater

Instructions

- 1
  
  A battery-operated drill is handy when drilling holes in logs for shiitake spawn.
  
  Cut down a young tree that is 4 feet long and 4 to 10 inches in diameter. Drill 25 holes in the tree, 2 inches deep and 4 inches apart.
- 2
  
  When using a rubber mallet, be sure not to hit the plugs too hard or they can break off.
  
  Fill each hole with a mycelium-inoculated plug and gently hammer the plug into the hole with a rubber mallet.
- 3
  
  Create a double boiler with a saucepan and an old metal coffee can.
  
  Create a double boiler by placing a coffee can in a saucepan filled with water. Bring the water to a boil and add the cheese wax to the coffee can. Heat until the wax melts and reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 4
  
  Use a turkey baster and wax to seal shiitake spawn in a log.
  
  Suck up wax into a turkey baster and seal the wood plug holes with the wax.
- 5
  
  A shady forested area is perfect for growing shiitake mushrooms.
  
  Move the log to shady forest area and lean it up against an existing tree. Water the inoculated log every other day with chlorine-free water or rainwater for two to three weeks.

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