Description

Shiitake Mushroom Outdoor Grow Kit

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 Mushroom Outdoor Grow Kit 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.

Skill level: Beginner
Grow location: Outdoors
Spawn shelf life: 6 months (refrigerated)
Incubation: 6-12 months
Fruiting temps: 55-70°F

Each outdoor kit contains:

• A drill bit
• Log sealing wax
• A wax applicator
• 100ct plug spawn or voucher
• Instruction guide

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.

Kit with voucher

Ordering a log kit with a voucher allows you to redeem your plug spawn at a later date. Vouchers make a great gift and are good for projects beyond a 3 month start date.

Inoculation

Shiitake works best with the log method. It will take at least 9-12 months of colonization before producing mushrooms and tends to fruit throughout the summer to fall growing season and after rainfalls. Preferred wood species are oak, maple, or beech.

For our complete plug spawn pamphlet, click here.

Storing
If you don’t plan to use immediately, you can refrigerate your spawn for up to 6 months.

Cooking

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.

Cautions & considerations
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.