Are you interested in growing shiitake mushrooms? We are among the shiitake mushroom spawn suppliers worth knowing! Learn about our shiitake spawn now
In the shiitake mushroom industry, shiitake spawn is an important part of the shiitake cultivation process. That's why we're shiitake mushroom spawn suppliers, here to help you grow and produce shiitake mushrooms in your farming operation.
As shiitake mushroom spawn suppliers, we have an array of shiitake mushroom spawn to choose from. Our main offerings are shiitake mushroom grain spawn, shiitake mushroom sawdust spawn, and shiitake mushroom plug spawn. We also have ready-to-fruit shiitake mushroom growing kits for the easiest shiitake growing experience around.
Looking to grow other types of mushrooms beyond shiitakes? We have many edible, gourmet mushroom species that you can grow at home or on your commercial farm.
A brief historical look at shiitake mushroom farming
Shiitake mushrooms have been grown on logs in Japan since 1100. The name "shii" (an evergreen oak tree) "take" (meaning mushroom) is the Japanese name for this mushroom.
In the beginning of shiitake cultivation, freshly cut logs were placed next to logs producing shiitake mushrooms. The hope was that spores produced by the mushrooms would hopefully colonize the freshly cut logs before another mushroom colonized the wood. Over time growers developed different methods of introducing spores to freshly cut wood but consistent colonization and fruiting was not achieved until the mid 1900s.
In the 1920s, K. Kitayama developed pure culture spawn, allowing mycelium with particular genetic traits to be used instead of spores. In 1943, K. Mori developed the practice of inoculating logs with wooden wedges that had mycelium throughout. Over several decades this evolved to be the drill and plug system that is now in wide use. These developments allowed log cultivation to become more efficient, reliable, and a larger commercial crop. One of the great things about shiitake mushroom cultivation is it can happen at both low- and high-tech scales. From backyard woods to large commercial farms, shiitakes are now widely cultivated in the United States.
Tips from shiitake mushroom spawn suppliers for growing on logs
The best results are achieved when logs were sourced in the fall when 30% of leaves have changed color. Log cultivation is best done on hardwood logs like oak, sugar maple, and beech. Other logs will work but will not produce as high of yields.
You can use shiitake sawdust spawn or shiitake plug spawn if you are interested in growing on logs. You can learn all about the log growing process in this article, which details a step-by-step process. One tip I will provide now is that you will need to use wax in the process of log cultivation. The wax is used to cover the inoculation holes you drill into the log, in addition to coating the ends of the logs. Doing so will help stop other forms of bacteria or fungi from entering the log and competing with your shiitake spawn.
Tips from shiitake mushroom spawn suppliers for growing with sawdust blocks
One method shiitake mushroom farmers use for indoor cultivation involves making their own shiitake mushroom blocks from hardwood sawdust. Bags are filled with the hardwood substrate, and these bags get inoculated with shiitake mushroom spawn. The spawn bags are incubated until the mycelium colonizes and solidifies the block. Once the supplemented sawdust blocks become colonized and the blocks develop a dark bark-like outer skin, they can be moved into fruiting.
Our shiitake mushroom grain spawn or our shiitake mushroom sawdust spawn can be used to make your own blocks.
Some reasons why people eat shiitake mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms contain eight essential amino acids, which are needed to form proteins in our bodies. These essential amino acids are not formed in the body, so it’s necessary to get them through the food we eat.
A 2015 study showed the efficacy of shiitake mushrooms for improving human immunity. The study, entitled Consuming Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) Mushrooms Daily Improves Human Immunity: A Randomized Dietary Intervention in Healthy Young Adults, concludes that shiitake mushroom consumption “resulted in improved immunity, as seen by improved cell proliferation and activation and increased sIgA production.” sIgA is responsible for inhibiting inflammation in mucous membranes and protects immunoglobulin.
Furthermore, shiitake mushrooms help lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The consumption of shiitake mushrooms improves immune response to infection, reduces cholesterol and triglycerides. The shiitake mushroom is also high in dietary fiber. Dietary fiber helps maintain regularity and prevent constipation. It can also reduce the risk of colon cancer by keeping the colon lining healthy. A shiitake mushroom’s well-rounded nutritional profile makes it a desirable ingredient for an array of foods including soups, salads, stir-fries, sauces and dips.
The shiitake mushrooms’ nutrients include: Thiamin (B1), riboflavin, niacin, vitamin D, and pantothenic acid.
We are shiitake mushroom spawn suppliers here to help you get growing! Get your shiitake mushroom spawn from us today!