Shiitake Mushroom Grow Kit
(Lentinula Edodes)

Small Shiitake Mushroom Grow Kit - Single Bag

Medium Shiitake Mushroom Grow Kit - 4 Bag Kit

Large Shiitake Mushroom Grow Kit - 10 Bag Kit

Everything you need to start exploring the wonders of edible mushroom cultivation! These kits include a shiitake mushroom culture syringe (Lentinula edodes) and come with a number of our pre-sterilized wood-loving Bag environments specially formulated for fruiting the shiitake mushroom.

Note: Small kit includes one Bag and 3cc culture syringe, medium kit includes four Bags and a 10cc culture syringe, and the large kit includes ten Bags and a 10cc culture syringe.

This latest Bag formula (Pictured in Figure 2) has been developed for more substantial yields from mushrooms that prefer wood based substrates over grain based substrates. This formulation design proves to be more usable by live cultures. The Bags for each kit are shipped with all air removed for easy packing. Each Bag contains approximately one pound of sterilized substrate material.

Also included is enough culture material to get each bag started, see the note above for exact amount of culture included. A filter patch is attached to the Bag to allow for gas exchange during colonization. The Bags measure 4" wide, 3" deep, and 18" tall.

In an effort to reduce the amount of paper waste created at our company, we will not include printed instructions for this kit. Directions for use are conveniently displayed for your reference below.

Directions for use:

Upon arrival, inspect your Bag(s) for punctures or tears, if any are, contact us to arrange for a replacement. Unfold the Bag, allowing the extra material to stand straight.

Locate the small foam disk sealed and attached in a plastic housing near the base of the Bag. This disc is the self-healing injector site. Note: The disc is covered by a small plastic shield. Do not attempt to remove the plastic covering the disc, you will inject through it. Sterilize a small section of the outside of the Bag (on the plastic shield) directly over the foam disc with an alcohol soaked wipe. With the same alcohol soaked wipe, sterilize the needle on your culture syringe.

Inoculate the substrate with culture syringe(included) solution by inserting the needle through the plastic shield and foam disc at the previously sterilized spot. Squirt 1cc of culture solution directly into the substrate material .

DO NOT insert the needle through the white filter patch found near the top of the Bag.

Place the kit's bag(s) in a dark location and incubate at 68-78F. It is recommend to store the bag fully extended as developing mycelia will give off gases that will slowly expand the interior of the Bag. This ballooning effect is crucial for proper air exchange and culture development.

Note: During drier summer months it is advisable to store the Bag in a humid location. Excessively dry environments may draw moisture from the Bags.

Because colonization will begin in the interior of the substrate material it may take between 14-20 days for you to notice the spreading of colonizing mycelium towards the outside of the Bag (See Figure 3).

Full colonization takes at least one month at room temperature (68-78F) after injection of the shiitake culture. A brown coloration will be seen to develop when the kit is mature and ready to be fruited.

Blistering and cracking reveals potential mushrooms developing just under the skin of the kit (See Figure 4 for detail of blistering inside the Bag). These developing mushrooms can be selectively released from the bag by carefully cutting holes just above the blister sites or the entire bag plastic material can be removed for unrestrained fruiting.

This strain of shiitake can be easily fruited in the kitchen without costly environmental controls. A simple and effective fruiting setup can be constructed from a thin plastic grocery or other similar type bag for a humidity tent and a dinner plate to catch excess water. The humdity tent pictured in Figure 5 is a custom humidity tent design we hope to offer in the future.

Remove or cut holes in the plastic covering the fully colonized and mature mushroom kit. Place the kit in the center of the plate on a riser (jar lid or smaller upside down plate) to support the kit above water which may collect in the dinner plate. Loosely cover the kit with the humidity tent. Remove the humidity tent at least once a day and mist the kit and inside of the tent heavily. Shiitake mushrooms require some light to develop normally so don't place the kit in a dark area. Mushrooms should begin to develop within a few days and be ready to harvest after about a week.

After removing all of the mushrooms, the kit must enter a dormant phase before more mushrooms will grow. Keep the kit under the humidity tent but discontinue misting for 7-10 days. After the dormant phase has passed, the kit needs to be completely submerged in water for 12-24 hours. The kit will be very buoyant and creative methods may be needed to keep it under water. After soaking, place it back in the humidity tent and mist daily.

The kit should produce at least 2 crops of mushrooms before becoming exhausted. Green molds are often seen growing on the kit's surface especially after the first crop. This usually indicates too much humidity and misting frequency should be reduced. The molds can also be scrubbed off the surface of the block during soaking. After 2 crops the kit will begin to weaken and molds may begin to grow aggressively. This is a sign that the kit is spent and should be disposed of.