We have all seen those reality shows that focus on finding their dream homes in the best possible locations. The same case applies when it comes to your mushroom logs. Where you place them as they incubate and fruit determines whether your logs will fruit and how successful your harvest will be.
The key objective is to ensure that they stay out of direct sunlight to avoid drying out the log. Keep reading to find all other factors when selecting the best spot for your mushroom logs.
Outdoors Vs. Indoors
You can place your mushroom logs indoors or outside. As long as you remember the general rules, you are good to go. Always remember that Mushroom logs should be placed somewhere shady, humid, and warm. Additionally, maintaining good air circulation is important to prevent mold.
Outdoor placement
Place your logs in a shady place, such as under a tree or against a south-facing wall that does not get much sunlight. If you have a large canopy under some trees, you can stack all your logs underneath it.
Ensure the logs are not exposed to strong winds. Access to rainfall is also a great plus as you do not have to water them all the time. You can lay the logs flat or prop them against a fence or wall.
It is advisable to place your logs on the ground to absorb moisture from the ground. However, if the ground is too wet, place them on some bricks or uninoculated logs so they are slightly off the ground, as the excess moisture may cause them to rot.
You can also bury the log partially to enable it to wick more moisture from the ground. But keep your logs out of the soil for the first few months, as you may need to move them around until you find the best spot.
Indoor placement
If you start your log incubation period during winter, storing them in a sheltered space with additional protection from the snow, such as a barn, shed, or an unheated room in your house, is advisable.
You can also store your logs indoors, even if the conditions are not as harsh as winter for faster incubation. As mentioned above, they need to be away from direct sunlight, and you should also bear this in mind when incubating your logs indoors and place them away from the windows.
The room should be comfortable enough for human habitation. Temperatures between 480F and 750F are ideal. Ensure your logs are not exposed to dry air. This means you do not use heating gadgets such as heaters, fans, or wood stoves to warm the room.
Ensure indoor storage space still gets sunlight, as the mushroom logs should be exposed to a day and night cycle. You can place them in a corner without direct sunlight, but the space still gets exposed to indirect light.
Do not place your logs in a basement of a cold garage, as the excess humidity can cause even the best logs to rot. If you do not live in an area that receives copious amounts of rain, you can store the logs in your garage or basement, as it is unlikely to be extremely humid or prone to water seepage.
Place about an inch of mineral soil on a flat tray, then place your log on it. This helps the log maintain its moisture level. Do not overwater the log, as the excess water will accumulate in the soil on the saucer and eventually cause your mushroom log to rot.
Additional Tip to Help with Log Placement
Other important factors to consider when selecting a home for your logs.
- Place your logs near a water outlet to make it easier to water them during periods of low rainfall.
- Cover your logs with shade netting if you are placing them outside to ensure they do not get unwanted sun exposure or dry out in case it gets too hot and sunny.
- Use a burlap cloth or perforated netting to ensure rain can penetrate through and wet the logs.
- If your land is sloppy, place your logs at the bottom of the slope, where it is warmer and more humid.
- Easy access to your mushroom logs ensures you can check on them and water them regularly.
- To store your logs while incubating, stack them in the crib style by placing each row in an alternating direction. This ensures your logs have sufficient air circulation and can get sufficient water or rain.
- You can also stack your logs in a log cabin style if you have placed them directly on the ground. This way, the moisture wicked by the bottom logs will get transferred to the other logs.
- Keep your logs off the soil for the first 6-12 months to prevent invasion of the logs by other fungi in the soil.
