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. 

Views: 546

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

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

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

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

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!

RSS

Forum

Replanting after timber harvest with climate change in mind

Started by Ben T. in Woodlot Management. Last reply by Patrik Schumann on Tuesday. 1 Reply

Hi Everyone,I’ve been wondering what tree species are going to thrive over the next 50+ years as the climate warms in New York and I’m curious if folks are enhancing plantings of particular tree species for future commercial harvest with warmer and…Continue

Rust Colored Hemlock Bark

Started by Carl Albers in Woodlot Management Dec 31, 2023. 0 Replies

Picture of a hemlock with rust colored bark.  When I cut a nearby tree, also with rust colored bark, it was infested with HWA.  Attached picture shows a Logrite ATV arch in use.Continue

Rust Colored Hemlock Bark

Started by Carl Albers in Woodlot Management Dec 31, 2023. 0 Replies

The hemlocks in my woodlots have been infested with hemlock wooley adelgid (HWA) for at least three years now.  Lately I've noticed some of them having a rust colored bark and I wonder if this is normal and that I just didn't notice it previously? …Continue

How to control mature white pine and hemlock to allow enrichment planting of hardwoods

Started by Peter Smallidge in Woodlot Management Nov 28, 2023. 0 Replies

I had a question about control of mature white pine and hemlock to improve sunlight for enrichment planting of hardwoods.  Following is my response, but I would like to know if anyone else has any experiences to share with control of these to…Continue

Story in Northern Woodlands Magazine on Deer Impacts

Started by Brett Chedzoy in Woodlot Management Aug 8, 2023. 0 Replies

This Spring we had an opportunity to speak with writer John Litvaitis about the big picture of deer impacts on the hardwood forests of the Northeast.  I posted the original story from the summer edition of Northern Woodlands to the…Continue

Ash blonding effect on lumber quality

Started by Jeff Joseph in Woodlot Management. Last reply by Jeff Joseph May 5, 2023. 2 Replies

Question: In Peter Smallidge's most recent "Ask a Professional" column for NYFOA's Forest Owner magazine he stated that some log buyers will reject ash that shows outward signs of "blonding" on the bark. Is this because the wood will change…Continue

The American Chestnut: A New Frontier in Gene Editing

Started by Brett Chedzoy in Woodlot Management May 2, 2023. 0 Replies

https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/policy/042823/the-american-chestnutInteresting discussion the difference between efforts with the American Chestnut and other…Continue

Growing Black Locust for Pleasure and Profit

Started by Brett Chedzoy in Woodlot Management Apr 20, 2023. 0 Replies

In early March I was invited to present on the opportunities for growing black locust as a timber cash crop at the Rural Landowner Conference in Allegany County.  Ryan Trapani from the Catskill Forest Owners Association asked afterwards if I would…Continue

Badge

Loading…

© 2024   Created by Peter Smallidge.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service