How to grow your Shiitake grow kit
Thank you for choosing our organic Shiitake kit from Schleedorf, Austria! Here is everything you need until your first harvest – step by step, no experience needed.
The essentials
- Let the block brown in its bag at room temperature and don't move it during that time.
- Start fruiting: 48 hours in the fridge, then about 4 hours in a cold water bath.
- Shiitake fruit without the bag – simply place the block on a plate.
- Harvest before the caps open flat.
Step by step to your harvest
1. Unpack and place
Take the kit out of the box as soon as it arrives, but leave the bag closed. Place it somewhere at room temperature where it can stay undisturbed for the next few weeks.
2. Let it brown (4–6 weeks)
The block now gradually turns from white to brown – this is the typical Shiitake “bark”, and exactly what you want. A fully browned block gives strong, even pinning later on.
Important: don't move the block during this time, otherwise the mushrooms will start growing too early.
3. Cold shock: 48 hours in the fridge
As soon as the block is mostly brown, put it in the fridge, still closed, for at least 48 hours. The drop in temperature signals the fungus to form mushrooms.
4. Water bath and unpack
Take the block out of the bag and submerge it in cold water for about 4 hours (e.g. in a bucket, weighed down with a plate). Then unwrap it completely and place it on a plate.
Do not put the block back in the bag – Shiitake blocks fruit without packaging.
5. Fruiting
Place the kit in a bright spot out of direct sunlight with high humidity – e.g. bathroom, cellar or a cool room. Shiitake fruit between 10 and 25 °C. You'll find the exact values below.
6. Harvest
Harvest your Shiitake just before the caps open flat. Cut them off flush with the block so no stem remains – this keeps the block clean and ready for the next flush.
7. More flushes
After harvesting, just leave the block to dry out slightly. After 2–3 weeks, submerge it in cold water again and the next flush will grow.
And afterwards? A spent kit is far too good to throw away: remove the foil and add it to your compost or organic waste bin as a valuable organic fertiliser.
Ideal conditions for Shiitake
Fruiting initiation
- Temperature10–16 °C
- Humidity90–95 %
During fruiting
- Temperature10–25 °C
- Humidityabove 85 %
- Fresh air (CO₂)400–800 ppm
- Light500–1000 Lux, indirect
- Flushes2–4
Values from the book “Faszination Pilzzucht” by Sebastian Reindl (Stocker Verlag) and from our own practice at our mushroom farm in Schleedorf, Austria.
Troubleshooting
Green patches on the block
Shiitake are occasionally prone to Trichoderma (green mould). No need to panic: simply scrape off the green spots and carry on as usual.
Mushrooms already growing in the bag
This usually happens if the block was moved during browning. Just open the bag, let the mushrooms grow and harvest them – then continue with step 7.
No growth, or only weak growth?
Have a look at our FAQ or get in touch via our contact form – ideally with a photo. We are happy to help.
Enjoying your Shiitake
Fresh Shiitake have an intense, savoury aroma with a hint of garlic or onion. They are best briefly pan-fried, in a stir-fry, in soups or as a filling. The stems are tougher than the caps – perfect for stock. Read more in Shiitake mushrooms: flavour, cooking, storage and growing.
Fancy Shiitake in your garden? With our Shiitake plug spawn you can inoculate logs that produce for years.
FAQ about the Shiitake grow kit
Why is my Shiitake block turning brown?
That's completely normal and even desirable. After colonisation the mycelium forms a brown protective layer, similar to bark. Only when the block is mostly brown is it ready for fruiting.
How long until the first harvest?
Allow 4–6 weeks for browning. After the cold shock and water bath, the first mushrooms usually appear within about 1–2 weeks.
How often can I harvest?
One kit gives several flushes. Between flushes the block needs 2–3 weeks of rest and a new water bath.
Do I need to mist the block?
No, the water bath gives the block enough moisture. A spot with high humidity, such as a bathroom or cellar, is more important.
How do I store freshly harvested Shiitake?
In a paper bag in the fridge they keep for a few days. Shiitake also dry very well – drying makes their flavour even more intense.
Want more?
Reorder directly from us, discover more mushroom species or learn how to grow mushrooms yourself in one of our courses.
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