Holly's Homestead — Mushroom
Shiitake Mushrooms
Lentinula edodes · Omphalotaceae family
DIFFICULTY Moderate
TYPE Log-grown fungus
MATURITY 6–12 months
TYPE Log-grown fungus
MATURITY 6–12 months
Light
Shade
Moisture
Logs kept damp; soak to fruit
Substrate
Fresh hardwood logs
Temperature
10–25°C, fruits in cool spells
Spawn
Plug spawn, 30–50 per log
01Inoculated log
Shiitake grows on fresh hardwood logs, inoculated through drilled holes with plug spawn and sealed with wax. The fungus spreads through the log for months before it fruits.
02Planting
Method
Drill 12mm holes 2.5cm deep, 10cm apart in staggered rows, tap in plug spawn and seal with wax.
Substrate
Fresh hardwood logs, 10–15cm wide, about 1m long. Avoid pine and cypress.
Timing
Inoculate in late winter to early spring. First flush 6–12 months later, then 1–2 a year for 3–5 years.
Logs
Use eucalypt, wattle or oak, cut in the cool season and inoculated within 2 weeks.
Planting timing varies significantly by Australian climate zone. Set your zone above (or use the Find My Climate Zone tool) for guidance tailored to your own area.
03Growing care
- Keep logs off the ground, in shade and out of drying wind.
- Water in dry spells so logs stay damp, not waterlogged.
- To fruit, soak logs in cold water for 12–24 hours.
- Rest logs 6–8 weeks between soaks.
04Problems
- Drying out — dry logs stop fruiting; keep them shaded and water in dry spells.
- Competing fungi — wild fungi colonise logs; use fresh logs and seal holes.
- Termites and slugs — termites eat logs and slugs graze caps; keep logs off the ground.
- No fruiting — logs too young or never soaked; wait 6–12 months, then soak.
05Harvest & storage
Signs
Pick when the cap is tan-brown, about 70–80% open, with the edge still rolled under.
Method
Twist or cut each mushroom at the base with a clean knife.
Aftercare
Rest logs 6–8 weeks after harvest, then soak again.
Storage
Fresh in a paper bag in the fridge, 1 week. Dried shiitake keep 1 year or more.
Eating
Always cook; raw shiitake can cause a skin rash in some people.
Preserving
See Dehydrating (drying mushrooms for storage) for ways to keep a harvest surplus.
06Companions & rotation
Plant nearby
Shaded verandahTree shadeAvoid nearby
Direct sunDrying windRotation note
Not applicable — logs fruit for 3–5 years, after which they can be composted.
