The Waiting Period
Once a log is inoculated, mycelia (root-like structures) must become organized and grow to take up nutrients and carbohydrates (sugars). Like roots, mycelia need plenty of moisture and a compatible temperature. Place logs in a warm, 65 to 80 degrees F location in the garage or basement during the winter months.
Weigh your control log every few weeks. If it loses more than 10 percent of its weight, sprinkle or mist all of the logs for several hours each day until the original weight is restored.
Beginning in March, outdoor logs will need to be moved to a shady location and kept moist. Many gardeners cover their logs with burlap to keep in the moisture.
Stacking Logs
Logs can be stacked several ways during this time. The most important factors are good aeration, moisture, and temperature. If logs are leaned against a tree or "A-frame" stacked, they will tend to lose moisture rapidly (Figure 8).
| Figure 8. Logs stacked against a shade tree. Typical of an A-frame stack. | |
"Lean-to" or "criss-cross" are the best methods of stacking for mycelium run (Figures 9 and 10). If logs are stacked like firewood, they receive little aeration and the mycelium in the bark knits the logs together.
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Figure 9. The lean-to stack is one of the best methods of stacking logs during mycelium run. |
| Figure 10. The criss-cross stack is also one of the best methods of stacking logs during mycelium run. |  |
When you unstack them at a later time, it causes the bark to pull off of the logs. This causes bare spots on the log where moisture loss can occur. Weed fungi contamination at these sites is also a problem.
Logs will begin to show signs of mycelia run or mushroom activity in about 3 months. The inoculation sites will turn whitish first, and then the logs will have white "V-shaped" markings on the outer one-third of the ends of the log (Figure 11). Fruiting will generally not begin for 6 to 12 months after inoculation, depending on the type of wood and the strain of shiitake mushroom you used.
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Figure 11. Logs will begin to show signs of mycelia run or mushroom activity in about three months. Notice the three white V-shapes on the end of the log. |