Welcome
We’re excited to get you inoculating and growing your own mushroom logs
Our kits are super easy to set up and a fantastic way to learn how to grow mushrooms.
On this page you’ll find a full and extensive set of instructions for every stage of your growing journey.
If you’re here to redeem you voucher please see ‘VOUCHER REDEMPTION’ below to redeem your mushroom dowels.
If you’re looking to get growing you can explore your options and order your log kits here -
For outdoor growing.
LARGE PRINT instructions available at the end of this page.
How it works…
Stage 1. Getting Your Spawn & Sourcing Your Logs
To get the best out of your mushroom log kit, you’ll need to order your fresh dowels and source the perfect log .
Order Your Fresh Dowels
Using your voucher code - choose and redeem your dowels.
Our dowels are inoculated with fresh, living spawn, and need to be fresh and healthy to grow. We keep them chilled at the farm until you’re ready.Choose your mushroom -
Oyster Grey/White
Shiitake
Nameko
Lion’s mane
Once received, keep your dowels in the fridge for up to 1 month.
Sourcing Your Log
Ideal log size - 8-12cm diameter, 50cm length max.
Freshly felled log, from healthy tree with its bark still intact.
Hardwood logs are the preferred, fruit trees will also feed your mushrooms for several years.
Avoid soft woods, yew trees and conifers.
Your log will need to be ‘green’ and cut within the last 8 weeks.
You can read more about what tress are more suitable for which type of mushroom via this link:
Stage 2. Inoculating Your Log
Once you have sourced your log and receive your dowels follow your printed instructions.
A full set of instruction can be found further down this page, with a large print version available via a link below.
Choose your mushroom:
Inside your kit
Instruction booklet
Spawn voucher and unique code
Bees wax
A sponge dabber for wax application
What you need:
Your delivered inoculated dowels - refrigerate till ready to use
Freshly felled, hardwood log.
A hammer
A drill with a hammer drill function - if your drill is not very powerful it may struggle to make the holes in hardwood.
8.5mm clean drill bit.
A pen or tape to mark your drill bit,
Heat source to melt your wax.
Stage 2. Inoculation
Step 1. Mark out you dowel placement - mark five evenly spaced points along the length of your log for the first row. Then mark the second row, off setting your holes between the first row holes.
Continue to create six rows of five holes, spaced evenly around the log in a diamond pattern (9 rows for Lions Mane dowels).
Step 2. Drill all your holes to a depth of 35mm. For consistency, you can mark 35mm depth on your drill bit with your pen or tape.
Step 3. Insert dowels - hammer one dowel into each hole until level with the log’s surface.
Step 4. Seal holes - warm the wax over low heat. Use the sponge dabber to seal the dowels and any wounds in the bark.
No need to seal the cut ends of the log.
Step 5. Mark your log - label the log with the type of mushroom it is inoculated with.
Log placement:
Place the log outside and sheltered from wind and sun.
You can either stand your logs up with the base on the ground - this is good to help retain and absorb moisture from the ground.
Or
You can lie your logs on the ground - this helps avoid drafts or being over exposed.
If over exposed, or in a draughty location your log may dry.
Make sure it’s exposed to rain.
Keep it near a water source for weekly watering if there is no rainfall.
During long dry spells ensure you water your logs.
Cover with leaf mulch if you’re unable to water during dry and warm weather.
Warning: if your log dries out, the mycelium may die and mushrooms won’t grow.
What to Expect
Harvesting:
Fruiting: You can expect your first mushrooms to fruit from 12–24 months after inoculation - depending on the mushroom type.
Mushrooms should be picked when young. Twist or cut them close to the log.
you log, if kept watered, will continue producing mushrooms for at least 3 years.
Shiitake: you can force fruit fully colonised logs by dropping them from a low and safe height, so not to damage the log and then soaking in cold water for 24 hours.
Sign of Mycelium: under the bark, or at the ends of your log, you may see the white of the mushroom mycelium growing. This is a good sign your logs and mushrooms are developing well.
Where your log is lying down, or the end is buried in the soil you may also see mycelium when you left or move your log.
Happy growing.
Identification and safety:
Ensure correct mushroom identification before harvesting. If it doesn’t look like the mushroom you inoculated your log with, please avoid.
When identifying your mushrooms use at least four key features to ensure they are the mushrooms you inoculated your log with:
Gills,
Cap,
Stem,
Spores,
Smell.
If in doubt, don’t eat any mushrooms you’re not 100% sure of.
All outdoor harvested mushrooms should be cooked before being eaten.
If you’ve enjoyed this project why not explore more of our mushroom growing projects? From indoor to out-door log kits, we have a variety of options to keep your mushroom-growing adventure going.
If you want a printed copy of your instruction please use these links here
Ⓒ Caley Brothers 2025