The benefits of growing your own mushrooms are many. Fresh mushrooms are a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal, they're a great natural source of antioxidants, and they can be used medicinally as well. With so many different types of mushrooms to choose from, there's something for everyone! Give mushroom plug spawn a try today and see for yourself how easy it is to get started growing your own mushrooms at home.

What is plug spawn?

Mushroom plug spawn is an easy and convenient way to start growing mushrooms at home. Every bag of mushroom plug spawn contains approximately 100 myceliated hardwood dowels or "mushroom plugs" for inoculating logs and stumps and comes with complete instructions. All you need is a drill, a 5/16" drill bit, and some wax. At home mushroom production has never been easier than using mushroom plug spawn!

How to use it:

Drill a hole into your log or stump about 1" deep and insert the plug. Mushrooms will start to grow when the log or stump is fully colonized. The log or stump will stop producing mushrooms after several years when it decomposes.

What can I grow?

Mushroom plug spawn is generally used to inoculate hardwood trees for the cultivation of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms. Types of mushrooms that are commonly grown on logs include Shiitake, Lion's Mane, Maitake (or hen of the woods), Oyster, Chestnut, Nameko, Wood Ear, Enoki, and Beech. There are other fungi that will fruit on wood substrates, but these are the most common mushrooms grown on logs.

We recommend using only untreated hardwood. Many types will work, but we mainly use oak, maple, beech, and hornbeam (ironwood).

FAQ

How do I inoculate the logs/stumps?

You drill holes into the logs or stumps. You then hammer the plug spawn into the holes until the plugs are flush with the bark. The mycelium colonizes and penetrates the log over time, resulting in mushrooms!

How long does it take plug spawn to colonize a log or stump?

It takes between 6 months and 2 years for the mycelium to fully colonize the log. The time frame largely depends on the type of wood, how much plug spawn you use, weather conditions, and the size of the log. Colonization always takes longer in cold climates.

Can I speed up colonization?

No. Colonization will occur naturally over time. You cannot speed up colonization.

What do I need to get started?

In order to get started, you will need a drill, drill bit, wax, and some mushroom plug spawn. You can find all of these items at your local gardening or hardware store.

What is plug spawn?

Plug spawn is a type of mushroom starter that is colonized with mushroom mycelium. The plug itself can be made out of various materials, but the most common are birch dowel rods. Plug spawn can be used to inoculate logs and stumps to produce mushrooms.

How do you make mushroom plug spawn?

Making mushroom spawn plugs is easy. All you need is wooden dowels (usually sterilized birch plugs), sawdust, or another type of substrate, and a culture of pure mushroom mycelium. You'll also need a sterilization method. Different methods are discussed in detail in our cultivation classes.

How do you use mushroom plug spawn?

Mushroom plug spawn can be used to inoculate logs or stumps to produce fresh mushrooms. Tree species are important when selecting logs. Always select hardwood, and be sure the wood is not from a dead or unhealthy tree.

When should I inoculate my substrate with mushroom plug spawn?

Summer or fall inoculation is our favorite when using plug spawn. Cut logs as close as possible to the inoculation date. The hardwood logs should not begin to decay before they are inoculated. Inoculate during late summer or early fall and winter months, and avoid inoculating in the early spring with the competing fungi growing and brittle bark on living trees. Because of these factors, spring inoculation may lead to the reduced life of your mushroom logs.

How long does it take mushroom plug spawn to grow fresh mushrooms?

It usually takes around 3-6 months for mushroom plugs to grow mushrooms.

How do you store mushroom plug spawn? 

Spawn plugs should be stored in a cool, dry place protected from direct sunlight. The fridge is the best place to keep your spawn plugs until you are ready to use them.

What size are mushroom plugs?

5/16 x 1 inch is the most common size for mushroom plugs.

Who should use plug spawn?

Anyone who is interested in small scale mushroom log cultivation can use spawn plugs. They are a great way to get started in mushroom cultivation. For more information on mushroom growing, check out our cultivation classes.

How long do mushroom plugs last?

Mushroom plugs will last for many months in the fridge. The shelf life will depend on the type of mushroom. Lion's mane has the shortest shelf life.

How do you inoculate a log?

Insert the dowels into the log. Make sure they are tightly fit in place, and cover them with wax (many people use cheese wax). The mycelium will grow through the dowel over time, eventually producing mushrooms.

How do you know if mushroom plugs are growing?

The wood should change color along the cut ends and eventually begin to fruit mushrooms

How do you inoculate a stump with mushroom plugs?

Insert the dowels into the top and bottom of the stump. The mycelium will grow through the wood over time and eventually mushrooms fruit.

What varieties of mushroom plugs do you have?

We have a wide variety of mushrooms available, but only certain mushroom species perform well on logs. These varieties include oyster mushrooms, chicken of the woods, shiitake, hen of the woods,

How many logs will 100 plugs inoculate?

Usually just a few logs, but this depends on size and diameter log! Sawdust spawn can be used to inoculate logs also if you are doing more than a few logs at once.

Wholesale Customers

We offer competitive wholesale pricing for mushroom plug spawn to resellers and farmers. If you are interested in wholesale pricing please contact us today! At Fungi Farm, our products are 100% grown and produced by us, in our own facility, in the USA.