How to Grow Mushroom Plugs at Home

Obtain an oak or other hardwood log. You may want more than one log; each log holds 20 to 30 plugs, so determine the number of logs you will need accordingly. Cut the logs 2 to 4 feet long and 4 to 6 inches in diameter. Before use, age the log for three weeks to three months. Aging kills off natural antifungal agents in the wood that can negatively affect mushroom production.

Soak your log or logs for 48 hours in a bathtub or with a continually running hose.

Drill holes around your log in a spiral pattern, leaving four to six inches between each hole. Drill holes 2 inches deep, the same diameter as your plugs.

Inoculate your logs. Place a plug in each freshly drilled hole. Make sure the plugs are in the hole completely. If necessary, use a hammer to make sure the plugs are firmly seated in their holes. For the best results, inoculate before the first frost or after the last frost.

Cover each hole with a thin coat of cheese wax or beeswax, using a brush. This will protect the mycelium during incubation.

Lay a 4- to 8-inch layer of sawdust in the area where you want to lay your log or logs. The area should be shady and damp. The sawdust is not absolutely essential but does help to regulate temperatures.

Stack your logs in a shady, damp place, being sure not to cover any plugs in the process. Stacking logs together will help to further regulate temperature.

Water the log or logs twice weekly or as necessary to keep the logs damp at all times.

Wait. Your log should begin producing mushrooms between six months and a year. Logs will generally produce in the fall and the spring, when temperatures are between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Generally, logs will continue producing for two to three years.