Lion's Mane Mushroom Outdoor Log Starter Kit

Grow Lion’s Mane Mushrooms Outdoors

Grow your own Lion’s Mane mushrooms outdoors with our mushroom log starter kit. Each kit contains everything you need to inoculate a freshly cut hardwood log for your very own natural mushroom patch. Lion’s Mane is recommended for mushroom cultivators who are familiar with the methods and techniques of log cultivation, and are willing to wait a bit longer for results. Lion’s Mane incubates slowly, over about 12-24 months, which is twice as long as faster colonizing species. It’s recommended to use totem or vertical log methods with this species, but the payoff is worth it! 

Sustainable Mushroom Cultivation 

Log cultivation is one of the oldest forms of mushroom cultivation, dating back over 1000 years - this sustainable method uses freshly hewn logs to cultivate mushrooms as they grow in nature. By reducing the amount of one-time use plastics commonly associated with cultivation, you can feel good about your grow!

Harvest Over Multiple Years

One of the biggest advantages of log cultivation is the harvests - depending on your log’s diameter and type of wood, you can get multiple harvests out of a single log over several years! A general rule of thumb is for each inch of log diameter, you will get a harvest for each year, so a 4” log can be harvested for up to 4 years. Hardwood species also tend to last longer than softwoods and can contribute to additional harvests. For more info on selecting mushroom logs, check out our guide.

1. In order to use this kit, you will need to source freshly hewn logs of a suitable species. For Lion’s Mane, the best candidates are hardwoods of the following species: 
2. Beech, Hornbeam, Maple
3. Alder, Aspen, Birch, Black Walnut, Box Elder, Cherry, Chestnut, Cottonwood, Elm, Mulberry, Oak, Maple(soft), Sweetgum are all acceptable for use as well. 
4. Avoid using Hemlock, Pine
5. Lion’s Mane can be grown using larger diameter logs and stumps, in a vertical orientation, as well as using smaller, longer vertical logs. 
6. Prepare and clean logs with a brush to remove debris. Keep bark intact. 
7. Drill 1” deep holes using the provided drill bit. Alternate hole placement between rows. 
8. Add colonized dowels to holes and pound into the log with a mallet or hammer. Ensure plugs are flush with log surface. 
9. Using the melted wax provided, apply melted wax using the dauber to each inoculation point. 
10. Once the wax dries, move the logs to a shady, humid area such as beneath a tree, and follow the log care instructions in our guide. 
11. Harvest 12-24 months later during temperate fall weather. 

For more information, refer to the following guides, or download our free log cultivation guide in the resources section. 

• Log Cultivation FAQs
• Log Cultivation Blog
• Log Cultivation Guide