How to Grow Turkey Tail Mushrooms

Cut, buy or find a fresh, healthy hardwood log. Oak, beech, birch, maple, aspen, alder, hazel, willow or poplar can be used. The ends should be sawed flush and there should be a minimum number of branches. Saw off any branches flush with the surface. Rinse any dirt or debris from the log. Logs should be around 40-inches long and 6-12 inches in diameter. Submerge and soak your log in water for 24 hours if it seems dried out at all.

Drill 1-inch deep holes all over the log. Use a 5/16-inch drill bit and sterilize the drill bit before using by wiping it with rubbing alcohol. Drill staggered rows of holes starting and finishing two inches from the ends of the logs. Space the holes six inches apart. Space the rows three inches apart.

Tap the turkey tail plugs into the drilled holes with a mallet.

Seal the holes with wax to ensure proper retention of water and to keep out insects. Melt cheese wax in a pot (cheese wax melts at 145 degrees F) and apply swabs to the tops of the holes with a wax applicator. Also seal any scars in the bark of the log to help keep moisture in.

Place the log upright in a warm, shady area. The ideal temperature for turkey tail mushrooms is between 65-75-degrees F.

Keep your log moist and don’t let it dry out. Water the log thoroughly with water once a week. Make sure the log gets soaked by letting the sprinkler run on it for a couple of hours.

Look for mushrooms to begin growing during the summer. They will continue to grow as you pick them. The log will continue to produce mushrooms in subsequent growing seasons, for a few years after inoculation.