Buy Plug Spawn: Organic Mushrooms on Your Own Logs
The oldest growing method in the world: organic wooden dowels fully colonised by mycelium. Hammer them into fresh hardwood, seal – and harvest in your garden for years.
- EU organic certified
- Made at our farm in Schleedorf
- 100 dowels for 2–4 logs
- Guide via QR code
Which species suits your wood?
All four grow on fresh hardwood. Softwood is not suitable.
Shiitake
Log-grown shiitake are considered particularly high-quality and aromatic.
- Oak, beech, alder and other hardwoods
- Lean logs at an angle, no soil contact needed
- Trigger fruiting with a water bath
Oyster mushroom
Robust, fast and happy on many woods – ideal for your first mushroom log.
- Beech, alder, poplar, willow, birch
- Bury logs 20–30 cm deep
- Harvest mainly in spring and autumn
Lion's mane
White, shaggy fruiting bodies with a mild flavour and tender texture.
- Beech, oak and other hardwoods
- Bury about ⅓ of the log upright
- Harvest mostly in late summer and autumn
Reishi
Glossy red-brown fruiting bodies – an eye-catcher in the garden, but not a mushroom for the pan.
- Oak, beech, alder
- Likes it warm (above 20 °C)
- Fruiting bodies take 3–6 months
How to inoculate your logs
You need: freshly cut hardwood logs (approx. 1 m long, 10–25 cm diameter), a drill with an 8.5 or 9 mm bit, a hammer and plaster or beeswax for sealing.
- Choose logs: Fresh, healthy hardwood – no older than one month.
- Drill: 25–50 holes per 1 m log in a diamond pattern, deep enough for the dowels to sink in completely.
- Inoculate: Hammer in the dowels and seal the holes well with plaster or beeswax.
- Colonise: Keep 8–24 months in a shady, moist, sheltered spot – then harvest for many years.
In detail on our blog: Guide for mushroom cultivation on logs. Every product comes with a step-by-step guide – also via the QR code on the label.
Plug spawn at a glance
| Species | Suitable wood | Log placement | Harvest season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shiitake | Oak, beech, alder | lean or stack crosswise | seasonal in damp weather, can be triggered by soaking |
| Oyster mushroom | Beech, alder, poplar, willow, birch | bury 20–30 cm deep | mainly spring and autumn |
| Lion's mane | Beech, oak | bury about ⅓ upright | late summer and autumn |
| Reishi | Oak, beech, alder | bury 20–30 cm or half-buried lying down | summer, above 20 °C |
Colonisation: 8–24 months · Harvest: 3–5 years depending on wood and log diameter · Dowels keep 6–12 months refrigerated
FAQ: plug spawn
How many dowels do I need?
25–50 dowels per 1 m log, depending on diameter. So 100 dowels are enough for 2–4 logs. Shiitake and oyster dowels are also available in packs of 500 and 1000.
Which wood is suitable?
Fresh hardwood such as beech, oak, alder, birch, poplar or willow – the best choice depends on the species. Softwood is not suitable.
When is the best time to inoculate?
In spring or autumn. Fresh wood is key: logs should be no older than one month. Soak older logs in water for 24–48 hours first.
How long until the first harvest?
The log first needs 8–24 months to colonise – softwoods like alder or willow faster, hardwoods like beech or oak slower. After that it fruits for 3–5 years depending on the wood.
How do I store dowels until use?
Cool in the fridge – they keep 6–12 months there. They are most vigorous when fresh.
Can I eat reishi?
Reishi is corky and very bitter, so it is not a mushroom for the pan.
From our organic mushroom farm in Schleedorf
We produce our grow kits, grain spawn and plug spawn ourselves – at our EU organic certified mushroom farm in Schleedorf near Salzburg, Austria. Short distances mean fresh, vigorous mycelium for you.
Sebastian Reindl, founder of Stoff'n, is the author of the book “Faszination Pilzzucht” (Stocker Verlag). Its know-how goes into every one of our guides.
More for your mushroom growing
Questions? We are happy to help
Something not growing as expected?
Check the matching guide and our FAQ – or write to us via the contact form, ideally with a photo. We will get back to you personally.
