How to Grow Shitake Mushrooms in Florida

You can grow shiitake mushrooms in your yard in Florida thanks to the humid climate. These mushrooms are popular in Asia and have become popular in the United States, as well. Shiitake mushrooms are an edible delicacy found in specialty and oriental stores throughout the United States, according to The University of Florida Extension. You can grow them in your home landscape on logs by obtaining a kit from a garden store or online supplier.

Things You'll Need

Oak logs
Saw
Wire brush
Drill

Shiitake mushroom kit
Cinder blocks
Tarp

Instructions

- 1
  Round up 10 to 15 fresh oak logs that are 3 to 8 inches in diameter. Make sure to choose logs that do not have signs of disease or fungi. Avoid using pine and red oak. Water and laurel are logs best used to grow shiitake mushrooms in Florida.
- 2
  Saw the logs 4 feet long in late fall, late winter or early spring, suggests the University of Florida Extension, since carbohydrates required for growth are at a high during those times of the year.
- 3
  Clean the logs with a wire brush to remove dirt.
- 4
  Drill holes 1 inch deep and 3/8 inch round, spacing them 6 to 10 inches apart down each log. Space the next row 2 to 3 inches apart from the first row going down the log.
- 5
  Set a shiitake mushroom spawn into each hole, sealing with melted wax. This ought to be done in early spring after the last frost or three weeks before the first frost in the fall.
- 6
  Place the logs 2 inches apart on cinder blocks on each end located in the shade to protect them from the Florida sun.
- 7
  Water once or twice a month, depending upon rainfall, using a sprinkler. Water for two to eight hours at a time to maintain moisture. Cover the logs during hurricanes or tropical storms to which Florida is prone. An abundance of rain can damage the mushrooms.
- 8
  Harvest the shiitake mushrooms in nine to 12 months after setting them in the logs.

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