MUSHROOM PLUGS



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Mushroom Plugs have been used for many years by the commercial outdoor grower.  Now the MUSHROOM MAN brings it home to you!

Log cultivation is usually done with logs 4 - 6 inches in diameter with a length of 3 to 4 feet. Oak is particularly good for the cultivation of most mushrooms though many other species work well also: poplar, aspen, sugar maple, willow, alder and birch, among others.

CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUCTIONS


Perhaps the most delicious of all the edible medicinal mushrooms, shiitake is highly esteemed for its medicinal properties.

It has been found to reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, stimulate the immune system and have anti-tumor properties.

A combination of different strains can allow for mushroom production through spring, summer and fall.

 See instructions

 Lentinus

edodes

Shiitake

Plugs/100

$18.95

 

edodes

Shiitake

Plugs/300

$30.95

 

edodes

Shiitake

Plugs/1,000

$45.95

 

The Reishi mushroom can increase the production of interleukin1 and 2, resulting in inhibition of tumor growth. Studies show that Reishi can have a number of other positive effects on the body such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-viral (through its interferon production), lowers blood pressure. It also acts as a cardiotonic by lowering serum and increasing the production of interleukin 1 and 2, which results in inhibition of tumor cholesterol, expectorant, anti-tissue, liver protecting and detoxifying, protection against ionizing radiation, antibacterial, and anti-HIV activity.

  See instructions

Ganoderma lucidum

"Reishi" or
 "Ling Chi"

Plugs/100

$18.95

  lucidum

"Reishi" or
 "Ling Chi"

Plugs/300

$30.95

  lucidum

"Reishi" or
 "Ling Chi"

Plugs/1000

$45.95

 

Maitake Mushroom (Grifola frondosa) may best be known for its cancer-fighting properties. It contains grifolan, an important beta-glucan polysaccharide (molecule composed of many sugar molecules linked together).

Grifolan has been shown to activate macrophages, a type of cell consider the " heavy artillery": of the immune system, explains Larry A. Walker, Ph.D., R.D., author of "Natural products update," published in Drug Topics, June 1997. D-fraction, one of the polysaccharides in maitake mushroom, also energized the cellular immune system.

 Grifola

frondosa

Maitake
Hen of the Woods

Plugs/100

$18.95

 

frondosa

Maitake
Hen of the Woods

Plugs/300

$30.95

 

frondosa

Maitake
Hen of the Woods

Plugs/1000

$45.95

 

Lion’s mane is the common name given to a group of mushrooms of the genus Hericium. Lion’s mane mushrooms have a coral-like shape, with spindly branches that shoot out from the stem. They are creamy yellow in color, and are noted for their lobster-like flavor and texture when cooked.

Hericium

abietis

Conifer Coral

Plugs/100

$18.95

 

abietis

Conifer Coral

Plugs/300

$30.95

 

abietis

Conifer Coral

Plugs/1000

$45.95

 

erinaceus

Lion’s Mane

Plugs/100

$18.95

 

erinaceus

Lion’s Mane

Plugs/300

$30.95

 

erinaceus

Lion’s Mane

Plugs/1000

$45.95

 

Health benefits of mushrooms have been investigated by Japanese scientists and reveal mushrooms may favorably influence the immune system. Possessing potential benefits in fighting cancer, glutamic acid, an amino acid present in mushrooms, seems to be instrumental in combatting infection. Every culture has used mushrooms as food, as well as medicine, and have been a longtime staple in Asian diets. Mysterious mushrooms have also served as stimulants or hallucinogens in religious ceremonies.

 

 Laetiporus

sulphureus

Chicken-of-the-Woods

Plugs/100

$18.95

 

sulphureus

Chicken-of-the-Woods

Plugs/300

$30.95

 

sulphureus

Chicken-of-the-Woods

Plugs/1000

$45.95

 

Reported Health Benefits: Oyster mushrooms are best known medically for their cardiovascular and cholesterol-controlling benefits. Oyster mushrooms contain mevinolin and related compounds which are potent competitive inhibitors of HMG CoA reductase (3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductuctase), the major rate limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. In addition, they have been shown to have activity in the following:

  • Antitumor
  • Immune response
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antiviral
  • Antibiotic

 See instructions

 Pleurotus

ostreatus

White Oyster

Plugs/100

$18.95


ostreatus

White Oyster

Plugs/300

$30.95

ostreatus

White Oyster

Plugs/1000

$45.95

         
djamor Pink Oyster
Only warm climates
year round
Zone 5b - 10b

Plugs/100

$18.95

djamor Pink Oyster
Only warm climates
year round
Zone 5b - 10b

Plugs/300

$30.95

djamor Pink Oyster
Only warm climates
year round
Zone 5b - 10b

Plugs/1000

$45.95

         
columbinus Blue Oyster

Plugs/100

$18.95

columbinus Blue Oyster

Plugs/300

$30.95

columbinus Blue Oyster

Plugs/1000

$45.95

         
citrinopileatus Golden Oyster
Only warm climates
year round
Zone 5b - 10b

Plugs/100

$18.95

citrinopileatus Golden Oyster
Only warm climates
year round
Zone 5b - 10b

Plugs/300

$30.95

citrinopileatus Golden Oyster
Only warm climates
year round
Zone 5b - 10b

Plugs/1000

$45.95

         

pulmonarius

Phoenix Oyster

Plugs/100

$18.95

pulmonarius

Phoenix Oyster

Plugs/300

$30.95

pulmonarius

Phoenix Oyster

Plugs/1000

$45.95

 

A very delicious and beneficial mushrooms through-out the world.  The Elm Oyster mushroom.  The Elm Oyster mushroom known medically for their cardiovascular and cholesterol-controlling benefits.  Easy growing and very fast fruiter!
Hypsizygus  ulmarius Elm Oyster

Plugs/100

$18.95

Hypsizygus ulmarius Elm Oyster

Plugs/300

$30.95

Hypsizygus ulmarius Elm Oyster

Plugs/1000

$45.95

 

Un-Inoculated Flutted Dowels

Birch dowels measuring 3/8 x 1.5 inch. Each dowel has spiral grooves (flutted), accelerating mycelia recovery from inoculation.

To create spawn just soak for two days, sterilize, and inoculate with grain spawn.


Each 1/2 gallon of grain spawn can inoculate 20 gallons of dowels!
10,000 plugs per unit.
$135.00

Quantity:

 

Cheese wax

Cheese wax is used to seal in the spawn once the log has been inoculated. It can be applied with a small foam brush, baster, cotton daubers or other such applicators. The cheese wax is able to cover 50 plugs per log: 

1 lb Cheese Wax
(75 to 100 logs)
$10.95  1 lb
1/2 lb Cheese Wax
(30 to 50 logs)
$6.95  1/2-lb

 

Instructions
Mushroom Log Inoculation


Log cultivation is usually done with logs 4 to 6 inches in diameter with a length of 3 to 4 feet. Oak is particularly good for the cultivation of most mushrooms though many other hardwoods work well also, such as poplar, aspen, sugar maple, willow, alder and birch, among others. Conifers are to be avoided for the cultivation of most mushrooms with the exception of chicken of the woods.

To select the appropriate trees for the cultivation of different gourmet mushrooms, refer to the tree selection guide on the back of this sheet. The best times for cutting logs are either in the winter months for spring inoculation or from August through October for late summer or fall inoculation. When inoculating logs in the summer, it is best to do the inoculation in the morning in a shady place. When selecting logs for mushroom cultivation, choose living trees without signs of decay. If the tree is dead, it will certainly already have other fungi growing in the wood. Using logs from a dead or unhealthy tree will either lower your yields or prevent production altogether. It is best to inoculate logs in early spring if they have been cut during the winter.

You can usually begin to inoculate logs one month before the average last frost date as long as day-time temperatures are above 40o F. If you cut logs during summer, it is best to inoculate them within 3 weeks after they have been cut so that the logs will still have an adequate moisture content. After inoculation, the logs are placed in a shady location out of the wind. Logs generally begin producing 6 months to 1 year after inoculation; after which, they usually continue to fruit for 4 years producing 1-2 lb. per year.

Each log usually produces 2.5 lb - 4 lb over its lifetime. Reishi, chicken of the woods, maitake and oyster grow well on both logs and stumps. For inoculation, you will need a drill, a hammer and cheesewax. If you are using plug spawn, you will need a 5/16 in. drill bit. If you are using sawdust spawn, you will need a 7/16 in. drill bit. Spawn can stay viable for up to 6 months in a refrigerator. 
 

 

Step 1

Drill 1¼ in. deep holes for plug spawn or 1 in. deep holes for sawdust spawn into the log spacing the holes about 6 - 8 in. apart within a row. Leave approximately 2 in. between the rows and offset the holes so that they form a hexagonal pattern. A 4 in. diameter log will need 6 rows; a 5 in. diameter log will need 7, and a 6 in. diameter log will need 9 rows. A 4 in. log usually is given about 40 - 50 plugs. A large stump usually requires 100 to 200 holes arranged in a similar hexagonal fashion around the trunk and with holes on the top of the stump as well. Spawn for all mushroom varieties are inoculated into logs and stumps in this manner.

 

Step 2

If using plug spawn, hammer the plugs into the holes flush with the bark. If using sawdust spawn, plunge the inoculator into the sawdust and then insert the spawn into the holes. Make sure the sawdust spawn is packed tightly into the hole flush with the bark.

 

Step 3
Cover the plugs or sawdust with cheese wax. To do this, melt the wax in a pan which can be maintained at 300oF. An electric frying pan with a thermostat control works well for this. If inoculating away from electricity, using a camp stove, make sure that the wax is hot when you apply it; otherwise, the wax will not create a tight seal and can easily fall off. The cheese wax will smoke lightly when it is adequately hot. The wax can be applied with a foam brush or dauber.
 

 

Step 4

Choose a shady location which receives protection from the wind. Shiitake, woodears, oyster, and lion's mane are usually grown on logs that are leaned against a rail, fence or other similar structure. You can also bury ¼ of the log so that it is standing upright or lay the logs on the ground. For Maitake and chicken of the woods, bury the logs halfway standing upright. For reishi either lay the logs on the ground or bury the logs length-wise just unde