Plugs can be used to inoculate hardwood logs (felled from healthy, diease-free trees) by drilling into the logs and inserting the plugs with a rubber mallet. Holes are then sealed over with foam caps or a thick layer of melted wax to protect the mycelium from the elements.
Plug spawn comes in a variety of sizes so as to accommodate both small and large scale projects. The plug spawn (sometimes called dowel spawn) we use is made from birch hardwood and measure 1” long and 5/16” diameter. ½ pound bags of plug spawn contain approximately 290-300 dowels, our 1 lb. bags contain 590-600 dowels and our 2 lb. bags have 1,180-1,200 dowels.
It’s always a good idea to add slightly more spawn than necessary rather than to under-inoculate your logs. To help give you an idea of how many plugs you will need for a project, here are a few examples. 1 lb. of plug spawn is sufficient to inoculate the following ranges of long length and diameter:
- 10 logs measuring 6 inches in diameter by 3 feet long.
- 6 logs measuring 6 inches in diameter by 4 feet long.
- 4 logs measuring 8 inches in diameter by 4 feet long.
It is important to note that suitable logs, limbs or branches should be cut from the middle of winter through to the early spring (December through to April in most parts of Canada) and allowed to ‘age’ for a period of 2-4 weeks before being inoculated. Logs that have been cut and left for longer than a few months or are felled when the trees are actively growing are less desirable for log inoculation.
For more information on cultivating mushrooms on logs, you can view these charts from North Spore & Field & Forest Products. These diagrams describe which host tree species are best suited as a host for the mushroom species and strain that you are wishing to cultivate. You can also reach out to us about the nature of your project so that we can give you costomized recommendations. You can countact us here.
Plugs can be used to inoculate hardwood logs (felled from healthy, diease-free trees) by drilling into the logs and inserting the plugs with a rubber mallet. Holes are then sealed over with foam caps or a thick layer of melted wax to protect the mycelium from the elements.
Plug spawn comes in a variety of sizes so as to accommodate both small and large scale projects. The plug spawn (sometimes called dowel spawn) we use is made from birch hardwood and measure 1” long and 5/16” diameter. ½ pound bags of plug spawn contain approximately 290-300 dowels, our 1 lb. bags contain 590-600 dowels and our 2 lb. bags have 1,180-1,200 dowels.
It’s always a good idea to add slightly more spawn than necessary rather than to under-inoculate your logs. To help give you an idea of how many plugs you will need for a project, here are a few examples. 1 lb. of plug spawn is sufficient to inoculate the following ranges of long length and diameter:
- 10 logs measuring 6 inches in diameter by 3 feet long.
- 6 logs measuring 6 inches in diameter by 4 feet long.
- 4 logs measuring 8 inches in diameter by 4 feet long.
It is important to note that suitable logs, limbs or branches should be cut from the middle of winter through to the early spring (December through to April in most parts of Canada) and allowed to ‘age’ for a period of 2-4 weeks before being inoculated. Logs that have been cut and left for longer than a few months or are felled when the trees are actively growing are less desirable for log inoculation.
For more information on cultivating mushrooms on logs, you can view these charts from North Spore & Field & Forest Products. These diagrams describe which host tree species are best suited as a host for the mushroom species and strain that you are wishing to cultivate. You can also reach out to us about the nature of your project so that we can give you costomized recommendations. You can countact us here.
