Detailed Explanation of Key Points for Cultivating Shiitake Mushrooms on Logs

Fell the mushroom trees in winter. After the logs are dried and cracks appear on the cut ends, when the moisture content is about 40%—45%, artificial inoculation can be carried out; temperature, humidity, light, and other factors during the fruiting period must be well controlled; after the mushroom buds emerge, with suitable temperature and humidity, they can be harvested after about 7—10 days.

I. Preparation of shiitake logs:

1. Felling trees: It is best to fell the mushroom trees in winter. During this period the trees are in a dormant state, rich in nutrients, with low moisture content, and the bark is tightly bound to the xylem and not easily separated.

2. Artificial inoculation: After the logs are dried and cracks appear on the cut ends, when the moisture content is about 40%—45%, artificial inoculation can be carried out.

II. Shading and spawn-running management:

Common stacking methods include the well-crib style, the strip-stack style, and the tile-overlap style. About every month, the positions should be swapped top to bottom. With repeated stacking, the upper and lower mushroom logs should be staggered to facilitate ventilation and allow easy absorption of water.

III. Management during the fruiting period:

If the site has good ventilation conditions, the mushroom logs tend to dry out and crack. During the fruiting period, special attention should be paid to water management. The air humidity of the mushroom yard should be 80%—90%, and the moisture content of the mushroom logs should be 50%—60%. If there is sunny weather without rain, spray water once each morning and evening to increase the temperature difference and humidity difference, so as to stimulate the differentiation and formation of mushroom buds. If the mushroom logs are too dry, soak the logs in water for 12—24 hours, then gather them together and cover them with plastic film to preserve warmth and moisture, ventilating three times a day. This can promote the mass emergence of mushroom buds. During the fruiting period, shiitake mushrooms have vigorous respiration. To keep the air in the mushroom yard fresh, weeds around the mushroom logs must be completely removed to ensure ventilation and air permeability in the mushroom yard.

IV. Harvesting and drying:

After the mushroom buds emerge, with suitable temperature and humidity, they can be harvested after about 7—10 days. Judging by appearance, when the cap is 6—7 parts expanded, the margin is still curled inward, and the partial veil at the cap margin is still clearly visible, it is the right time to harvest. The harvested shiitake mushrooms should be dried immediately. Separate fresh shiitake mushrooms according to size, thickness, and dryness, place them on the drying equipment, and first dry them slowly at 40—45 degrees C so that the moisture gradually dissipates. After the mushroom bodies slowly soften, gradually raise the temperature to 60—65 degrees C until fully dried. Drying technique directly affects the quality of shiitake mushrooms. Controlling the temperature well is most important; too high and they are easily scorched, too low and they are difficult to dry. If the temperature exceeds 70 degrees C, combined with poor exhaust, it easily causes the mushroom caps to turn black. Drastic temperature changes can also lead to shrinkage, cracking, and inward rolling of the edges of the mushroom caps, thereby reducing their commercial value.

V. Pest and disease control:

There are many weeds and parasitic organisms on mushroom logs, including Trichoderma, Schizophyllum commune, Panus lepideus, Lenzites betulina, Trametes versicolor, and others. Among pests, there are slugs and snails that eat fresh mushrooms; those that harm mushroom logs include longhorn beetle larvae, bark beetles, termites, and others. In control, the policy of “prevention first, integrated control” should be carried out, strengthening the management of the mushroom yard and mushroom logs, creating an environment favorable for the growth of shiitake mushrooms but unfavorable for the occurrence of contaminant fungi and pests, so as to prevent trouble before it happens. Once it occurs, it should be eliminated promptly and not allowed to spread.

1. Manual scraping method: When contaminant fungi appear on the mushroom logs, they should be scraped off promptly with a knife, and 2% limewater should be applied. For pests such as snails and slugs, they can be captured and killed in the early morning or evening.

2. Chemical control: When contaminant fungi contaminate the mushroom logs, brush the affected areas locally with lime liquid. For slugs and snails, a mixture of lime and bleaching powder (10:1) can be spread on the shiitake mushroom yard for control.