Ready-to-fruit Shiitake block.

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 Mushroom Fruiting Block Kit. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or a complete beginner, our kit 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 kit comes with everything you need in one convenient package: a pre-colonised fruiting block 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 two weeks.  

THE BENEFITS   

• Beginner-friendly; no prior experience or knowledge required  

• Harvest up to 1kg of fresh Shiitake from a single block  

• Ready-to-fruit block makes the process quick and easy   

• Guaranteed to produce mushrooms or we’ll replace your kit free of charge   

• Save money by growing your own mushrooms at home  

• Little space required to grow & is discreet with no smells  

• Shiitake mushroom is packed with bioactive compounds like beta-glucan   

HOW TO USE  

The process is simple:  

Prepare the Block: Remove the entire block from the bag and soak it 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: Alternatively, 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. 

Harvest: 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  

Temperature:   

• 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:   

• Colonisation: Complete darkness is preferred for rapid colonisation.     

• 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   

Good ingredients make for excellent grow kits. That is why we only use 100% natural and organic grain and masters mix substrate in our kits. We only use high-quality, natural ingredients for our products, specifically selected to support the optimal growth of Shiitake mushrooms.  

Our proprietary substrate blend is a mix of optimally hydrated millet grains, milo grains, hardwood pellets, soy hulls and gypsum. This mixture is carefully hydrated to field capacity and sterilised in a computer-controlled steam autoclave for 2 hours at 121°C.   

The result is an optimal 6:1 substrate to spawn ratio. 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  

• 3kg Shiitake Fruiting Block