Description
THE HASSLE FREE, READY TO SPAWN SOLUTION TO GROWING SHIITAKE AT HOME.
Shiitake mushrooms have an illustrious and decorated history in East Asia, where they have been grown and consumed for centuries for their rich, umami flavour. Shiitake were one of the earliest mushrooms to be cultivated in China around AD 1000 and 1100 AD, and some of the first written record of Shiitake can be traced back to the Song Dynasty in 1209. Due to the commonly held belief that they could support vitality and wellbeing, they became integrated into a number of traditional Chinese practices (1).
They remain the second most widely cultivated mushroom today, due to their delicious, meaty flavour and their potential health properties, which modern science is beginning to uncover. Scientific studies have shown that Shiitake contains polysaccharides, including beta-glucans and lentinan, which may have an influence on immune function. One important component is lentinan, which has been studied for its potential to help support the immune response. This may be one reason Shiitake is very popular among those looking to support wellness (2).
These umami-rich shiitake mushrooms are versatile in the kitchen and bring a savoury note to stir-fries, soups, sauces, and any kind of sauté. Powdered, dried or fresh, Shiitake can infuse a unique flavour and texture into a multitude of recipes.
Growing your own Shiitake mushroom at home has never been easier with our Shiitake Grain Spawn. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or a complete beginner, our spawn takes the guesswork out of mushroom cultivation and turns it into a fun, straightforward process. Say goodbye to complex setups and hello to thick, dense, and luscious clusters of mushrooms, ready to be cooked, extracted or made into a tea.
Our grain spawn comes with everything you need in one convenient package: a pre-colonised bag of Shiitake Grain Spawn that is ready to go right out of the box - no need for messy inoculations or waiting periods.
Simply follow our easy step-by-step guide, and watch your mushrooms grow! With minimal effort and space required, you’ll be harvesting beautiful, delicious Shiitake mushrooms in as little as three weeks.
THE BENEFITS
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Lab tested, high-quality living grain spawn, perfect for inoculating substrates
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Compatible with a range of substrates and growing methods
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Specially selected strains optimised for high yield, nutrient density and flavour
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Harvest mushrooms quickly within 3 weeks
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Guaranteed to produce mushrooms or we’ll replace your spawn free of charge
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Save money by growing your own mushrooms at home
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Little space required to grow & is discreet with no smells
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Shiitake mushroom is packed with bioactive compounds like beta-glucan
HOW TO USE
The process is simple:
Inoculation: Mix the grain spawn with the substrate at a roughly 6:1 ratio, depending on the specific substrate you’re using. We recommend hardwood or masters mix substrates for Shiitake.
Prepare the Block: Once fully colonised, soak the block in cold water for 4-8 hours to rehydrate. Place something heavy on the block to keep it submerged.
Maintain Humidity: Maintain a humid environment by misting the block two or three times daily or using a humidity tent. After soaking, pinning can occur within 7-14 days, but this depends on the environmental factors. Once pins form, reduce misting to avoid soggy caps and focus on fresh air exchange for healthy mushroom growth.
Humidity-Controlled Chamber: Finally, you can place the fruiting block in a chamber such as a MonoTub or Martha tent for optimal growth, as this will help maintain ideal fruiting conditions.
After around 30 days, the mushrooms should reach full size. Gently twist at the base to harvest.
Gone are the days of having to trawl through decade-old forum posts to figure out the fascinating but often confusing science that is growing mushrooms. Our step-by-step, easy-to-follow guide ensures a successful harvest, eliminating guesswork and making the whole process a breeze.
GROWING CONDITIONS
Substrate: Hardwood or 50/50 blend of hardwood and soy hulls (Masters Mix) hydrated to around 60%.
Temperature:
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Colonisation: Around 25°C (77°F) for optimal mycelium growth.
- Fruiting: 18-22°C (64-72°F) to encourage primordia formation.
Humidity: High humidity (over 80%) is essential for healthy, large fruits. Use misting, humidifiers, or a fruiting chamber to maintain humidity.
Light:
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Colonisation: Complete darkness is preferred for rapid colonisation.
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Fruiting: Indirect sunlight or ambient light is sufficient.
Fresh Air Exchange (FAE): Proper ventilation is necessary to provide the growing mushrooms with fresh air and prevent the buildup of carbon dioxide, which can inhibit growth.
Sterility: Maintaining a clean and sterile environment is paramount to prevent contamination from other fungi or bacteria, which can compete with the mycelium and hinder its growth.
INGREDIENTS
Great mushrooms begin with great spawn. That is why we only use our 100% natural and organic grain in our spawn. We only use high-quality, natural ingredients for our products, specifically selected to support the optimal growth of Shiitake mushrooms.
Our optimally hydrated millet and milo blend is ideal for spawn production because it colonises quickly and resists contamination better than many other grains, including Rye. We first soak and then cook our grain, carefully hydrating it to around 50% water content before sterilising the bags in a computer-controlled steam autoclave for 2 hours at 121°C.
This is then inoculated with our own Shiitake liquid culture, the substrate providing the perfect nutrient rich environment for mycelium, promoting rapid colonisation, large yields and minimal risk of contamination.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
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1.5kg Shiitake Grain Spawn Bag
WE DO NOT INCLUDE
Physical copy of the growing guide: You can find our online step-by-step mushroom growing guide here, as well as some of our own tips and tricks for optimising your grow. We highly recommend reading it before purchasing!
STORAGE
Please aim to use your Shiitake Grain Spawn Bag soon after receiving it. If you are not using right away, store the bag in the fridge. Stored this way, your spawn should last at least 3 months.
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EASY TO USE
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MASSIVE YIELDS
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SET & FORGET
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SAVE MONEY
What people are saying
MUSHROOM GROWING MADE EASY
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INJECT BAG
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WAIT 4-6 WEEKS
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HARVEST MUSHROOMS
MARTIAN MUSHROOMS
- Can grow multiple mushrooms
- QC lab tested for contaminants
- Easy to use with help from our mycologists
- Lifetime guarantee protected
- High yielding millet and milo substrate blend
- Rapid colonisation times
- Simple set & forget growing
- Fun step by step guided process
GENERIC GROW KITS
- Only grows a few species
- Untested for contamination
- Difficult to use without any on hand help
- Not protected if something goes wrong
- Lower yielding substrate
- Slow colonising weak genetics
- Lots of steps to get mushrooms
- Frustrating to use with long process