When to soak shiitake bolts

[Jeff Joseph]

I inoculated about 60 logs last September with shiitake plug spawn (from Fungi Perfecti---fruiting temperature 50-80 deg.). The bolts are 40" long, and are mostly on the "large" side, averaging 6-8+" in diameter, and are either Beech, Sugar Maple, Red/Chestnut Oak, or Hophornbeam. My question is: when do I want to begin soaking these logs? Would a spring soak be too soon, or would now be a good time? Any and all thoughts appreciated, especially from anyone who has experience with fall inoculation. Thanks. 

[Shelley Stuart]

I've read that it takes 12-18 months for bolts to start producing, so  I was eyeing spring of 2013 when I innoculated bolts in fall 2011.  They sprouted on their own in September 2012 (only a few mushrooms).  This inoculation started producing mushrooms in a natural flush last week, while my spring 2012 inoculations have not shown any signs of a flush.

I also used Fungi Perfecti (sawdust for 2011, plugs for 2012) on sugar maples.  My next inoculation will be this fall; I like working the trees then, and the rest of my outdoor activities have tapered off by then as well.  I believe there was also some research to suggest that fall-inoculated logs produce better.

Shelley

[Jeff Joseph]

Hi Shelley-

    Thanks for sharing your shiitake experience. Do you ever soak your logs, or do you let them fruit on their own schedule? From what you have said, I would imagine that I won't be seeing my first flush until the fall, and could expect a first large flush in spring of 2014.

     I definitely agree that there are advantages to fall inoculation, as there are so many other tasks (garden, orchard, firewood, etc.) taking my time in the spring. I too have read that fall inoculation has shown to yield at least as well as spring, so there seems to be no disadvantage.                  ----Jeff

[Shelley Stuart]

I'm planning on soaking, once I get the equipment set up so I can get regular fruiting established. Right now, I'm using the natural fruiting to feel my way through marketing, harvesting, and how to best place my logs now that they're producing. (I was thinking about a high-A setup, but instead I'm propping them up around full trees.

I'm also letting some get overgrown; it takes only two to make a great cream of mushroom soup when they're that large. I want to see if there's a market for "soup shrooms" not just the tender young versions.

Shelley

[2funguys]

Soak them! You wont hurt anything with a good soaking. Just make sure you only do it for 24hours. If the log is too tall for the trash can then flip it at 12 hours. with this being spring you might get some amazing Shiitake mushrooms!