You may be only familiar with the commonly available button mushrooms, but if you happen to be a mushroom lover, you should not lose sight of the black forest variety that is mostly cultivated in Japan. The latter variety which is known for its nice, meaty flavor is popular throughout the Asian countries. Yes, you are right the reference relates to the shiitake mushroom which is not only good to taste but is also hailed for its medicinal value. Japan produces the variety, and it is one of its leading agricultural commodities.
Increasing spree of demand
Despite being the special variety of Japan, the cultivation of shiitake logs is not restricted to the region. About fifteen years before, the concept made its way into the United States of America. Slowly, the American and the European market came to be acquainted with its special delicious flavor. The demand has been gradually increasing. In the current scheme of things, this particular type of mushroom commands an approximate price of four to five US Dollars, for every pound. Farmers, kitchen gardeners, and the commercial investors are showing their inclination to produce this particular kind of mushroom.
Needs moisture and humidity
If you have a passion for gardening, you will love undertaking a project with the help of shitake logs purchased from the Agrinoon. The fungus happens to be of the wood-decay type, and so you can use sawdust for breeding the mycelia injected spawn. After you carry out the project, on a small-scale, you can get the impetus for starting a large-scale commercial production. But first, you should know the subtle nuances and the modalities of farming. For a favorable fruiting response to occur, the moisture content should be increased. You also need to bring about variation in the surrounding temperature. Unless the temperature changes and humidity sets in, the logs used will fail to bear fruits.
Remember the following
While purchasing the substrate, you should be particular about selecting the right species of trees. That’s because not all tree species are equally healthy, and if you don’t select a healthy substrate, you will experience difficulties while fruiting. White, as well as, red oaks are supposed to produce mushrooms of exceptional qualities. So, when you purchase the kit, make sure that it includes either of these two special varieties. This particular Japanese variety of saprophyte grows best on substrates that are high in wood density. So, the density factor also needs to be kept in mind while purchasing the cultivation kit.
Choose a thick-barked option
If you buy substrates that are thin-barked, you should handle them, with care and caution because it tends to get easily damaged. The best option is to choose one that is thick-barked because the latter type retains the moisture content. But the type which is thin-barked tends to lose moisture faster than the thick-barked log. The mycelium that produces mushrooms requires carbohydrate. The nutrient aids the process of growth and development. The point that is of importance is to cut trees when they are in their dormant state because the trees in such a state produce maximum carbohydrate. During purchasing, you have to find out if the trees have been felled during the early spring or the concluding part of the winter. In these seasons trees are found to be dormant.
Resources: https://agrinoon.tumblr.com/post/161083679861/important-points-to-remember-while-purchasing