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wHAT SHOULD I DO? INSTRUCTIONS AND OPERATION
Step 1: Immersion
We must take the trunk out of the box as soon as possible (it can be a few days, but not more than a week).
Then we completely submerge the trunk for 24 hours (maximum 48h), in a bathtub, basin or similar. Better if it is not chlorinated water, if it is tap water we can let it stand for 12 hours so that the chlorine evaporates.
Step 2: Production
After 24 hours, we take the trunk out of the water and place it vertically on a saucer with about 2cm of water, and cover it with the plastic bag that you will find in the box and that will help to maintain the humidity of the trunk.
After 3 days we remove the bag.
In the production phase, it is best to keep the trunk indoors (to avoid the mushrooms getting wet or being eaten by insects), in a cool, shady place with natural light.
Step 3: Harvesting
After a few days (3-4 in summer and up to 2 weeks in autumn) the mushrooms will start to appear, breaking the bark. They take several days to reach the optimum size to be harvested, when they open and take the form of "lentil", we will not wait for them to open completely and acquire a flat shape with slight undulations. At that moment we must harvest them by cutting the stems flush with the trunk and they are ready to be cooked (no need to wash them before cooking).
Step 4: Resting
Once we have cut all the mushrooms, the trunk should spend about two months resting, also in a cool, shady place with natural light. This resting period can be indoors, in this case it should be permanently upright on the saucer with 2cm of water (avoid placing it near a radiator, or exposed to the sun). The trunk can also spend the rest period outdoors, in this case we will place it lying in the garden or in a cool area preferably surrounded by vegetation, so that it can be rained on but at no time is exposed to the sun or drafts.
During the resting period we should water the trunk from time to time (without pressure), especially if we see that the wood begins to crack at the end. In drier climates, water more regularly.
Once the 2 months or two and a half months have passed since the rest started, we will submerge the trunk again and the process starts again (after a few days we will pick the mushrooms and then we will leave it again for 2 months of rest). During 3-4 months in winter we will not submerge the trunk, so it will recover strength to give good blooms in spring. In this way you can get 3-4 blooms of mushrooms per year.
Some advice:
To our native oak trunks we have introduced through holes in its perimeter (which we have subsequently sealed with natural wax) the mycelium of the shiitake mushroom, a year ago. These are whitish filaments or rootlets that have been feeding on the wood of the trunk until they are mature enough to start producing mushrooms. We must take care of this mycelium that will remain inside the trunk, it is a living being that needs permanent humidity and favorable conditions for its subsistence.
If the first time we submerge the trunk it does not give us mushrooms, do not worry, it is possible that it lacks a little to complete the period of maturation, we keep it in the conditions of rest and we will submerge it again after a month. The first year the trunk will give us less mushrooms, the quantity will increase during the second and third year.
Sometimes, if the trunk has excess humidity, the cut surface of the trunk can acquire a greenish tone. In this case, we should encourage ventilation of the trunk, stop watering it and remove the water dish for a while. Once the greenish hue disappears, replace the water dish and reduce watering.
If you have any doubts, consult the FAQ page.
This product cannot be shipped to the Canary Islands or the United Kingdom.
Weight 3,50 kg
Dimensions 30-40 cm
Pack 3 units
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