Preparing for a Potential Sample Shiitake Harvest Early to Mid Fall: a new Knox 40 quart thermoelectric cooler ordered!

this thing is not cheap but it is also not small. I did get a small "sample" thermoelectric cooler at Goodwill - several months ago. At first I was skeptical but after a couple hours indeed there was a "chill" like a refrigerator inside!!

If kept cool (41 degrees F), dry, and dark, they can remain fresh for several weeks.

The key at harvesting the Shiitake is to get them chilled right away and then they will last two weeks refrigerated. I'll get ice packs also to keep them below 40 degrees.

  The main reason for edible mushroom poisoning is associated with their incorrect processing after harvest. The analysis of the circumstances of mushroom collection, transport, and storage shows that the largest percentage of poisoning was connected with long-term storage of mushroom dishes, collecting, and storing them in plastic bags, and long storage of mushrooms.

So my source wants them fresh, and then they get a higher price also since they weigh more.

For me - if they don't sell - I know the taste will be better Sun-dried - for Umami flavor!! So then I have my drying racks and solar drier to sun-dry what does not sell. Also I already have an order for 1/4 pound dried shiitake. So I will fill that first order first, of course. That would probably be my only fall order based on the amount of harvest I get if any! haha. The growers state that usually you don't get a harvest till the following year (in the spring) from when you first inoculated.

For spawn run, the logs should be placed in a warm, shady area with good air movement but protected from strong winds. An 80 percent canopy of pine, hardwoods, or shade cloth is desirable. Do not attempt to grow shiitake mushrooms in total darkness; some light is required for spawn run and fruiting.

This is, of course, if I get any harvest at all! There are many factors - since I am relying on small logs to try get an early harvest, the main limiting factor is that the logs dry out too easily. But since I am soaking the logs - then you also want a key "rest time" so that the young mycelium gets enough oxygen to keep growing. Also sun definitely does help the growth and is key.

So all those factors play against each other as a kind of subtle dance of ecology. I am really pushing the limit on small log size - but the mycelium did grow fast in the summer! It appears to still be ok. We did get a surprise 'below 40" fahrenheit night up north - a couple nights back.

Direct sun and wind can damage the early fungal growth or “spawn”, and can dry out the logs. The fungus needs moisture from the wood to grow.  Ideally, moisture content of the wood should be above 35 percent. During drought spells you should wet the logs down well, as with a garden hose or under a sprinkler for a couple of hours.
           
So once you have the logs, and they are inoculated and sealed, they need a period (“spawn run”) of 8 to 18 months for the fungus to “colonize” or grow through the log.  This is usually done laying four logs horizontally, then another four on top in the other direction, and so on—a “crib stack”. 
           
The shiitake fungus should eventually “fruit” or produce mushrooms on its own, but this is unique in that more production can be forced sooner and around the same time by “shocking”.  This is simply done by soaking the logs in cold water for 12 to 24 hours, during the warmer months when night temperatures are generally above 50 degrees.  A pond or stream of cold water is ideal, but any large container will work such as a cattle trough, even a small children’s pool.
           
Once logs are shocked or forced, stack them in an A-frame arrangement, or simply leaning up at an angle against a structure or side of a building.

So I am very curious to see if the Shiitake logs are "pinning" at all - starting to fruit on their own - as that cold weather plus a quarter inch of rain - may have "shocked" the shiitake into fruiting!! It is probably then TOO COLD already up north!!

 The optimum temperature is 62 to 78 degrees F. The mushrooms will grow in ... The log will go dormant below 40 degrees F and above 80 degrees F.

Then it's a matter of keeping them wet while they grow - or moist I mean. I have a watering can that is small - for this. Since I don't have a sprinkler.

 A few days to week from shocking the logs, you should see small white dots or bumps the size of a pencil eraser.  These are called “pins” and this process of early mushroom growth is called “pinning”.  From this point until harvest, cover the logs with a white woven frost blanket (available from complete garden stores, or online), or even a sheet if cold or frost is predicted.

So the cooler doesn't get here for another 10 days or so.

So this will hold enough for a solid "delivery" of Shiitake that I can then just roll into the warehouse where I have set up a tentative sales scenario.

I am saving cardboard dividers - to keep the mushrooms having air flow and space so they don't squish each other.

It's advertised as 48 quart but actually the interior is smaller. Still it is very big for a thermoelectric cooler.

People have had problems with the fan freezing up or causing condensation or just breaking. But this motor runs constantly - not like a compressor. So obviously you don't want to over work the thing. Also a little condensation is ok so that the mushrooms don't dry out. On the other hand this will keep ice from melting - as long as I keep the thermoelectric cooler running - the ice would only melt by half in a few days, according to reports. So if I do need extra cooling capacity I can still use ice.
https://www.brothersonfarms.com/mushrooms/shiitake/shiitakelogcare.html

After first fruiting, it can be forced every 2 months by shocking the mushrooms with ice cold water. This can be done by soaking the log in cold water for 24 hours, put into a refrigerator for 12 hours or set outside for a few days in the winter. Freezing will not hurt it. After shocking, remove the log from the water and stand it up again in a room temperature location. The mushrooms will think that winter has just passed and it is now spring, causing them to grow in a few weeks.

Tips & Warnings

The optimum temperature is 62 to 78 degrees F. The mushrooms will grow in other temperatures, but not as well. The log will go dormant below 40 degrees F and above 80 degrees F. Freezing for a short while won't hurt and provide a strong shock to force the mushrooms to fruit.

The cells need air, water, and light to grow. Every two months you can force-fruit your log - fool it into thinking it's the spring or fall rainy season - by soaking it for 24 hours in ice water. First the log will "pin,” meaning little white buds will break through the bark. The pins fill out, or fruit, into beautiful brown mushrooms. At first you may get only a few 'shrooms, but as the mycelia fill the log, and the log is fruited regularly, you'll get more production. In the second or third year, your log can be covered with mushrooms.

Also I was able to order it via http://knoxgear.com giving a link to a "third" site (by third I mean NOT Amazon and NOT walmart)....

Solid "rubber"ish wheels - good for floor transport indoors - no high clearance for cross country outdoor use....

Cord hiding cubby holes - have flimsy covers to be careful about.

Inside divider can be removed.

carrying handle not long enough for comfortable "long rides."

https://www.offgridweb.com/product/knox-electric-coolerwarmer/

Those are the quibbles from that site review.

A youtube reviewer says the fan is too loud for "camp sleeping" - on this Knox cooler. Really? That's a good sign for me - shows that it's got power. I think some people did get a replacement under warranty if the fan was being too loud. But I'm not really concerned about a cooling fan in terms of sleeping.

I don't plan on sleeping after harvest - as I hope to do a soak shock harvest this fall. But as I said - I don't know! Mother Nature could be causing my logs to start pinning right now! It takes several days for the shrooms to mature from pinning to harvest stage. So as a "natural" harvest then I could have some time spread out between different shrooms harvesting.

Wow - it looks like that Outdoor Gear Review caused Knox Gear to change their design! This is sold by the same place that I ordered from - so I wonder if I'll get this "new" model?

https://lifestyle.focuscamera.com/knox-gear-47-quart-electric-cooler-and-warmer-with-dual-ac-and-dc-power-cords.html

Nope - that "ergonomic" design is pricier. Interesting -it is a different product. Fine with me - I don't plan on rolling it from. Just from car into the warehouse!

Wow they're gonna be jacked up on corn syrup toxic killing substance! good luck there little "commodity unit" family-super models!

Here's the competitor - Wagan - ALSO holds 60 soda cans - video

I like that the Knox is spread out more horizontal than vertical - less pressure on the shrooms.