Mushroom Growing Guide from WinterWeed Farms

Your inoculated mushroom log is a living system that needs time to establish before producing mushrooms. Follow these simple steps to store, care for, and fruit your log for years of delicious harvests.

1. Storing Your Mushroom Log

📍 Storage Time: Your log needs at least one year to fully colonize before it will start producing mushrooms.

✔ Check the Brass Tag – Each log comes with a brass tag indicating the type of mushroom and the month and year it was inoculated.

✔ Choose a Shady, Moist Spot – Store the log outdoors in a shaded, humid area like under trees, beside a north-facing wall, or near a garden bed.

✔ Keep Off the Ground – Elevate the log slightly on bricks, stones, or a pallet to prevent rot and pests.

✔ Maintain Moisture – If your area gets less than 1 inch of rain per week, hose it down once a week to keep it from drying out.

🔸 DO NOT soak or force fruiting until at least one year has passed from the inoculation date!

2. Preparing Your Log for Fruiting (After One Year)

Once a full year has passed, and warm weather has arrived (consistent temps above 50-70°F), you can trigger fruiting with the following steps:

✔ Soak the Log – Fully submerge your log in non-chlorinated water for 24-48 hours in a large container, rain barrel, or bathtub.

✔ Use Cold Water – A sudden temperature change can help shock the log into fruiting.

✔ Drain & Position the Log – After soaking, lean the log against a tree, wall, or stand it upright in a humid, shady spot.

3. Encouraging Your Log to Bloom

Within 5-10 days after soaking, you should start seeing small mushroom pins (buds) forming. To encourage healthy fruiting:

✔ Keep the Log Moist – Mist it with water once or twice a day if conditions are dry.

✔ Protect from Wind & Direct Sunlight – Too much sun or wind can dry out the mushrooms.

✔ Maintain Humidity – If needed, drape a loose cloth or burlap over the log to help retain moisture.

🔸 DO NOT move or disturb the log too much once mushrooms begin forming!

4. Harvesting Your Mushrooms

✔ Pick at the Right Time – Harvest mushrooms when the caps are fully formed but before they flatten out or curl upward.

✔ Use a Sharp Knife – Cut mushrooms at the base instead of pulling them to avoid damaging future flushes.

5. Getting More Harvests

✔ Rest Period – After harvesting, allow the log to rest for 6-8 weeks before fruiting again.

✔ Re-Soak & Repeat – You can re-soak the log following the same process to encourage another flush.

✔ Long-Term Production – Depending on the species and size, your log can produce mushrooms for 3-5 years!

Final Tips for Success

✔ Be patient! Mushrooms take time to establish and fruit naturally.

✔ Soak only when warm weather is consistent for the best success.

✔ Store your log properly and keep it hydrated to ensure years of future harvests.

Got questions? Contact us we will be glad to help.