Growing shiitake mushrooms at home – instructions for your myko bag
1) Unpacking & Placement: Carefully remove the substrate block from the packaging, leaving the foil closed for now. Place the block in a clean location at temperatures between 15 and 24 °C.
2) Cut the foil: Make several crosswise cuts in the foil, each about 5–10 cm long. The shiitake mushrooms will later grow outwards through these openings.
3) Activation immersion bath: Immerse the substrate block completely in cold, clean water for 24 to 48 hours. Weigh it down if necessary to keep it completely submerged.
4) Drain: Remove the block from the water bath, let it drain well and remove excess water.
5) Moisten & choose location: Place the block in a bright but not sunny spot, for example in the kitchen. Mushrooms grow towards the light – a bright location ensures even growth. Spray the cut surfaces and the surface daily and keep the substrate consistently moist.
6) Growing mushrooms: After a few days, the first shiitake fruiting bodies appear. These usually continue to grow rapidly.
7) Harvesting: The shiitake mushrooms are ready to harvest as soon as the caps open and the edge of the cap points slightly downwards. Carefully twist the mushrooms off or cut them with a clean, sharp knife.
8) Further harvests: After harvesting, the block needs a rest period of a few days. Afterwards, you can water it again for 24 hours and continue to care for it. Multiple harvests are often possible.
9) Dispose of the substrate: Once no further mushroom growth is visible, you can dispose of the used substrate in your organic waste bin or compost. It is also well-suited as a natural fertilizer for balcony and garden plants.
Note: Shiitake mushrooms need fresh air, but not drafts. Work as cleanly as possible when caring for and harvesting them, and wash your hands beforehand. Should something unexpectedly not work as planned, you can reach us at any time by email at hallo@myko-manufaktur.de or via our contact form .
