Mushrooms

I was given a strange present at the end of last year. A log in a black bag. I was told to put it in a dark place for a few months and then stick it in the ground.

Being someone who’s always wanting to please, I did as I was told. This is the diary of growing mushrooms, which I later found out were doweled into this log.

Quick tips

• Logs can be productive for 4-6 years
• Logs should be taken between Autumn and Spring, while tree is in dormant stage
• Suitable for moist and shaded areas

Growing diary

Dowel log

Unfortunately, I don’t have my normal videos or photos of this stage, as it was a gift. Though I do know the process.

Order yourself some mushroom dowels. These are available most of the year and select a type of mushroom which you enjoy eating.

Obtain, by either using the waste from your own tree removal or by contacting local tree surgeons, a length of log which has recently been cut. It should be roughly a hands width in girth and a half metre long.

Using a drill, and spaced equally around the log, make holes in the log at the same depth as the dowels.

Using a mallet or a hammer, bash the dowels into the holes.

Put the log into a black sack and tuck it away for 4-6 months in a dark place. Ideally not too warm or cold. Under the stairs should be fine or at the back of the wardrobe.

Once it’s had time to stew, it needs to go in the ground.

Week 1: Put it in the ground

Clear an area in a damp shaded part of your plot or garden.

Next, dig a shallow hole. The log needs to be able to soak up some moisture so that it stays damp. This will also stop the log falling over or being blown around in the wind.

Place the log in the hole, at an angle. This is to encourage a little airflow, to give us lots of surface area for growing and so it’s easier to harvest the mushrooms later.

You can use a rock for support if you need to.

Fill back in with soil and firm down to give the log support. Then cover again with any ground cover you had.

Week 2 onwards: Now we wait

Now, we need to let the spores do their own thing.

There really is nothing to do but be patient.

I’ll update this page with the mushroom’s progress. If you have any questions or tips, please put them in the comments so we can all benefit from your experience.

Article written on Jan 27, 2021
Updated Jan 27, 2021