# How to Grow Shitake
Things You'll Need
- Oak logs
- Saw
- Wire brush
- Drill
- Shiitake mushroom kit
- Cinder blocks
- Water sprinkler
Instructions
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1
Gather 10 to 15 oak logs that are between 4 to 6 inches in diameter. Select logs that are not diseased or damaged.
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2
Cut the logs to 40 inches long in the late fall, two or three weeks before the first frost or early spring after the last frost has ended.
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3
Scrub the cut logs with a wire brush to eliminate dirt. Avoid removing the bark.
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4
Drill 1-inch-deep holes that are 3/8 inches round into the log, spacing the holes 6 to 10 inches apart along the log. Make another row 2 to 3 inches from the first row, going vertically down the log.
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5
Place a shiitake spawn into each hole and seal with the soft melted wax included in the grow kit. Repeat for each log.
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6
Set the logs 2 inches apart on cinder blocks on each end. Place in the shade. Direct sunlight can kill the mushrooms.
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7
Maintain moisture by watering the logs with a garden sprinkler twice a month, two to eight hours per session, depending upon rainfall.
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