Gourmet & Mushroom Products
Mushroom Plugs for Outdoor Mushroom Growing!
GMHP, P. O. Box 515 IP, Graton, CA 95444 - 24 hour ORDER line:
(800) 789-9121
Log and Stump Inoculation Shiitake, Maitake,
Hericium, Chicken-of-the-Woods, Reishi,
Oyster Mushrooms: White Oyster, Pink Oyster, Golden Oyster, Blue Oyster, Phoenix
Oyster - Cheese Wax GMHP offers plug spawn of hardy gourmet and medicinal mushroom species: These sterilized birch
plugs are grooved and fully colonized by pure mushroom mycelium, and are
available in packages of approximately 100 or 300 dowels (Shiitake Plug
Spawn is also available in packages of approximately 100, 300, and 1000 dowels).
These Plug Spawn comes complete with user-friendly instructions. See: Written & Video Instructions.
Cheese
wax is used to seal in the spawn once the log has been inoculated. It can be
applied with a small foam brush, baster, cotton daubers or other such
applicators. The cheese wax covers 50 plugs per log:
1 lb Cheese Wax
(75 to 100 logs)
$8.95 1 lb
$8.95 1 lb
1/2 lb Cheese Wax
(30 to 50 logs)
$4.95 1/2-lb
$4.95 1/2-lb
Perhaps the
most delicious of all the edible medicinal mushrooms, shiitake is highly
esteemed for its medicinal properties.
It has been found to reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels,
stimulate the immune system and have anti-tumor properties.
A combination of different strains can allow for mushroom production through
spring, summer and fall.
Maitake
Mushroom (Grifola frondosa) may best be known for its cancer-fighting
properties. It contains grifolan, an important beta-glucan polysaccharide
(molecule composed of many sugar molecules linked together).
Grifolan has been shown to activate macrophages, a
type of cell consider the " heavy artillery": of the immune
system, explains Larry A. Walker, Ph.D., R.D., author of "Natural
products update," published in Drug Topics, June 1997. D-fraction,
one of the polysaccharides in maitake mushroom, also energized the
cellular immune system.
The
Reishi mushroom can increase the production of interleukin1 and 2,
resulting in inhibition of tumor growth. Studies show that Reishi can have
a number of other positive effects on the body such as analgesic,
anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-viral (through its interferon
production), lowers blood pressure. It also acts as a cardio tonic by
lowering serum and increasing the production of interleukin 1 and 2, which
results in inhibition of tumor cholesterol, expectorant, anti-tissue,
liver protecting and detoxifying, protection against ionizing radiation,
antibacterial, and anti-HIV activity.
Lion’s
mane is the common name given to a group of mushrooms of the genus Hericium.
Lion’s mane mushrooms have a coral-like shape, with spindly branches
that shoot out from the stem. They are white, pinkish or creamy yellow in color, and are
noted for their lobster-like flavor and texture when cooked.
Health
benefits of Chicken-of-the-Woods mushrooms have been investigated by Japanese scientists and
reveal mushrooms may favorably influence the immune system. Possessing
potential benefits in fighting cancer, glutamic acid, an amino acid
present in mushrooms, seems to be instrumental in combating infection.
Every culture has used mushrooms as food, as well as medicine, and have
been a longtime staple in Asian diets. Mysterious mushrooms have also
served as stimulants or hallucinogens in religious ceremonies.
Reported Health Benefits: The Oyster mushroom has a firm texture when cooked and a "meaty" or oyster-like flavor which will add both texture and zest to most sauces or
dishes. Oyster mushrooms are best known
medically for their cardiovascular and cholesterol-controlling benefits.
Oyster mushrooms contain mevinolin and related compounds which are potent
competitive inhibitors of HMG CoA reductase (3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl
coenzyme A reductuctase), the major rate limiting enzyme in cholesterol
biosynthesis. In addition, they have been shown to have activity in the
following:
Log cultivation is usually done with logs 4 to 6 inches in diameter with a
length of 3 to 4 feet. Oak is particularly good for the cultivation of most
mushrooms though many other hardwoods work well also, such as poplar, aspen,
sugar maple, willow, alder and birch, among others. Conifers are to be avoided
for the cultivation of most mushrooms with the exception of chicken of the
woods.
To select the appropriate trees for the cultivation of different gourmet
mushrooms, refer to the tree selection guide on the back of this sheet. The best
times for cutting logs are either in the winter months for spring inoculation or
from August through October for late summer or fall inoculation. When
inoculating logs in the summer, it is best to do the inoculation in the morning
in a shady place. When selecting logs for mushroom cultivation, choose living
trees without signs of decay. If the tree is dead, it will certainly already
have other fungi growing in the wood. Using logs from a dead or unhealthy tree
will either lower your yields or prevent production altogether. It is best to
inoculate logs in early spring if they have been cut during the winter.
You can usually begin to inoculate logs one month before the average last frost
date as long as day-time temperatures are above 40o F. If you cut logs during
summer, it is best to inoculate them within 3 weeks after they have been cut so
that the logs will still have an adequate moisture content. After inoculation,
the logs are placed in a shady location out of the wind. Logs generally begin
producing 6 months to 1 year after inoculation; after which, they usually
continue to fruit for 4 years producing 1-2 lb. per year.
Each log usually produces 2.5 lb - 4 lb over its lifetime. Reishi, chicken of
the woods, Maitake and oyster grow well on both logs and stumps. For
inoculation, you will need a drill, a hammer and cheese wax. If you are using
plug spawn, you will need a 5/16 in. drill bit. If you are using sawdust spawn,
you will need a 7/16 in. drill bit. Spawn can stay viable for up to 6 months in
a refrigerator.
Step 1
Drill 1 ¼ in. deep holes into the log spacing the holes about 6 - 8 in. apart
within a row. Leave approximately 2 in. between the rows and offset the holes so
that they form a hexagonal pattern. A 4 in. diameter log will need 6 rows; a 5
in. diameter log will need 7, and a 6 in. diameter log will need 9 rows. A 4 in.
log usually is given about 40 - 50 plugs.
A large stump usually requires 100 holes arranged in a similar hexagonal fashion
around the trunk and with holes on the top of the stump as well. All mushrooms
are inoculated into logs in the same way.
Step 2
Hammer the plugs into the holes.
Step 3
Cover the plugs with the cheese wax. To do this, melt the wax in a pan which can
be maintained at 300oF. An electric frying pan with a thermostat control works
well for this.
If inoculating away from electricity, using a camp stove, make sure that the wax
is hot when you apply it; otherwise, the wax will not create a tight seal and
can easily fall off. The wax can be applied with a foam paint brush or cotton
dauber.
Mushrooms can also easily be grown on a small scale for home consumption in a
highly productive backyard mushroom garden with just a few logs.
By inoculating just 10 logs each year, one can harvest up to 10 - 20 pounds of fresh
mushrooms each year. Approximately 100 plugs are needed to inoculate 3 logs.
COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE INCLUDED WITH YOUR ORDER Return to Top
Cheese
wax is used to seal in the spawn once the log has been inoculated. It can be
applied with a small foam brush, baster, cotton daubers or other such
applicators. The cheese wax covers 50 plugs per log: 
