Best Mushroom Growing Logs For Medicinal Mushrooms: All You Need To Know
If you are thinking of cultivating medicinal mushrooms, remember that the quality and health of your produce will depend on several factors key among them being the type of log that you choose for cultivation. This article will discuss the key considerations that you should make so as to find the best logs, the best logs for growing medicinal mushrooms and the top mushroom logs care practices.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Mushroom Logs
1. The Health of The Logs
When choosing mushroom logs, it is best that you go for logs that have been cut from healthy trees. Ideally, the logs should not have any scarring or damage. When acquiring a mushroom log, choose one that has does not have any branches as there is less likelihood that the log will become contaminated by fungi.
2. The Age of The Log
In order to get healthy mushrooms, it is best to use the freshest logs that you can find. Fresh logs are less likely to dry out quickly and they are also less likely to contain any kind of contamination that can harm the health of your medicinal mushrooms.
3. The Type of Tree
When acquiring mushroom logs, it is best that you choose logs from hardwood trees such as Oak, birch or beech. Hardwood wood provide quality growth conditions for mushrooms compared to softwood trees. Remember that logs from softwoods such as cedar, pine of fir contain fungicidal resins that can greatly affect the heath and quality of your mushrooms. If you want thriving mushrooms, go for hardwood tree mushroom logs.
It is important to note that logs from lighter hardwoods such as sweet gum usually lead to accelerated mushroom growth. However, lighter hardwoods logs do not have the durability offered by dense hardwoods such as Oak. When choosing logs, consider the number of seasons that you want to plant medicinal mushrooms.
4. The Thickness of The Bark
For quality results, choose a log that has a medium-sized bark. Mid-sized barks usually provide perfect growth conditions and you are likely to see your mushrooms growing faster and healthier on logs that have a medium-sized bark.
5. Inoculation
Before acquiring mushroom logs, ascertain that they have been inoculated. Inoculation should be done after spawn holes have been drilled in the logs. Further, the drilled holes should be covered with wax so that the mushroom spawns do not get dry and also to keep the insects at bay.
6. The Size of Log
Mushroom logs come in different sizes. Before purchasing mushroom logs, ensure that the log can fit the amount of spawn that you want to plant. This is the best way to provide quality conditions for quick and healthy growth.
Top Mushroom Logs for Growing Medicinal Mushrooms
You can either choose to prepare your own mushroom logs or acquire already prepared logs. If you are preparing your own logs, cut down trees that will give you logs just after the leaves turn brown. Preferably, the log trees should be cur in the fall or spring. If you do not have a wood lot, you can get logs and prepare them at home from arborists or firewood suppliers.
If you are buying ready logs, below are a few great logs you can consider for growing medicinal logs.
1. 12″ Mushroom Log DIY Shiitake Mushrooms Log
This 12-inch mushroom log is hand-cut and comes ready for immediate mushroom growth. The log is already inoculated with drill holes already in place. Further, it is cut in such a way that it can either be placed horizontally or vertically. This log is very durable and can continue giving produce for over 2 years. This log is affordable, practical and a quality growth vessel.
2. 12″ Oyster Mushroom Log
This mushroom log can be used for over 2 years to produce healthy and fresh medicinal mushrooms. This hardwood log comes inoculated and can provide harvests for at least 3 months each year. It requires relatively low maintenance and comes at the affordable price.
3. 12″ Shiitake Mushroom Log
This mushroom log is just 2 months old and therefore provides the perfect conditions for ensuring quick and healthy growth for both edible and medicinal mushrooms. It comes already inoculated and can be used either horizontally or vertically. It can support the growth and production of healthy mushrooms for over 2 years making the purchase price a bargain.
Best Care Practices for Your Mushroom Logs
The health of your mushrooms and the quantity of produce that you get at the end of each harvest depends heavily on the care and maintenance that you give to your mushroom logs. For the best results when growing medical mushrooms, you should:
- Ensure that the logs remain wet. Remember that mushrooms grown in wet and moist conditions. For the best results, ensure that you soak your logs at least once each month to maintain optimal growth conditions.
- After fruiting, it is best that you let your logs rest for at least 8 weeks so that the logs can extract more nutrients for the next batch of mushrooms you will be planting.
- Though mushrooms do not require any light to grow, it is best to place your logs in a place with a natural light cycle. Avoid placing your logs in a place that is cold and extremely damp for quality results.
