Some of you may recall I posted some photos of logs that I innoculated last fall for some mushrooms I like to eat. Oyster, Lions Mane, Shiitake and Chicken of the woods. These are Oysters that fruited already. I wasn't expecting them this early. Maybe March or April. I am thinking the warm spell we had last week and all the rain triggered them. The spores were put into the logs in late August. Might turn out to be a good harvest year.

I just went over to check on our logs a short while ago and was surprised to see some. First Shrooms I have had emerge in January.

Awesome. I'll be waiting til spring here to hopefully find some wild ones.

Bob, that is cool that you are growing them. I found a bunch of dry ones last fall and spread them around on several dead stumps around the place with hopes they would take hold. Found a new tree today that had probably 10 gallons of oysters on it, but sadly I was about a week to late for those. These warm spell really bring them out here in Ks, I just need to get my timing down better. We have had several good messes this fall and winter though, even with my pour timing.

We have lots of deer on our place. I am going to cover them tomorrow so they don't disappear. I have a good blanket just for that purpose and it will help them to sprout more if it doesn't get too cold again.

I grew the shittakes from plugged logs like that a few years back. I need to get some more

Oyster mushrooms are quick given the right conditions. I found some last year in January when we had a few warm days.

think i will poke around. was bad cold but now its warm and sunny. everything wet

Hey Bob, what specie of wood did you use? Im

always wanted to try this.

I use oak and maple most.

i found some oysters in december a little over a month ago its crazy but good

Thanks Mr. Jameson! I'll figure out our time frame here and give that a try. Oak and Maple you say, got that out behind the house.

4"- 6" diameter or so is about the best hosting size log cut I have found and easiest to work with. Trim off the branches. I cut mine so I can stack them Lincoln log style and store them on a pallet.

Bob. Can this be done in an abandoned barn in Northern NY, zone 4A?

this would rot out a barn in a hurry

you want the logs damp all the time so if it is under a roof you would need to water

it won't happen in January for you but anywhere mushrooms grow naturally it can be done , you are just giving the logs a boost in the fungi you want.

typically shade on north side of buildings where the drip edge of the building will keep your logs damp even with a very small rain and no direct sunlight
or under a shady fence row on the north side

Outdoor areas open air stored in a somewhat mixed canopy shaded area is best. Indoor growing would require considerable maintenance with some varieties. The ones I grow do best in a more natural environment, letting nature help them along.

At times you may need to water your logs, but that depends upon your rain fall. You also may trigger fruiting once your logs have colonized well and do a planned harvest if you wish at times.

Some shrooms are successfully grown indoors on a commercial level via artificial hosting containments in fungi suitable media.

I gave a doz. or so spored logs to a friend since he had cut the logs for me. I called him to let him know that I had some fruiting already. He is about 80 miles away. He called me this morning after he drove to his mountain camp and said he had Shiitake and Oysters growing up there. That is odd how his Shiitake were growing already also but not here.

Thanks for info