first time with shiitake block. does this look ok?

[chrisnh]

picked up this block from a sponsor. the instructions didn't say anything about a dunk before putting in the FC, but it did say to do between flushes. only being familiar with everyone fav species, i don't know if this looks normal or not. normally i would think it's dry. it was put into there 6 days ago and there doesn't seem to be any real growth, most of what you see there was there when i got the block. it's a pmp FC. getting 2-3 air exchanges an hour, rh is pegged 24/7. i did mist it at first but i noticed the water would just bead up and run off like a ducks back. and some beads that didn't run off were there 10 hours later just sitting on the myc. temps are 65-72. the sponsor assured me that "This is a highly adaptable strain that has fruited in temperatures (on logs) up to 85F, and from wood blocks as low as 40F. It should work very nicely no matter your application." i'm starting to think that i should give it a cold dunk even though the instructions don't mention doing until after the flushes. any opinions? thanks

[TastyBeverage]

It's already got pins on it, so i think it's doing ok. Shitake substrate will often get a kind of crusty looking brown overlay to it, yours looks quite moist and fluffy actually.

[chrisnh]

Originally Posted by TastyBeverage

looks quite moist and fluffy actually.

shows you what i know about shiitake then doesn't it? thanks

anyone else have anything to say( or any shiitake advice really)feel free to chime in, you can never have too much information

[Gladiatrix]

looks good enuff to eat!

[chrisnh]

i think things are looking up. any tips?

[chrisnh]

is it still ok to mist at this point? thanks

[Dr_T]

I haven't grown them myself, but.. have some faith in the fungus.
Give it the conditions it wants, and it'll do what it does best.

[TVCasualty]

IMO it still looks a little too white for fruiting. They get all scabby and ugly looking when they fruit.

I've fruited out shiitake blocks before, and when they looked like that they needed a cold shock. I would refrigerate the block for 4 days, then soak it underwater for 24 hours (don't use chlorinated or distilled water). After the soak put it back in the FC.

I would also let the block dry out for 10 days in between flushes (leave the FC open so it literally dries out), then soak it for 24 more hours again to initiate the next flush.

Good luck!

[Myc]

Ditto what TV said.

I use a 72 hour ice water dunk to get things started. Haven't noticed that tap water has any negative effects.
If you don't allow the bag to brown first, your first flush will be very mal-formed but the fruits are still tasty.

Good luck!

[chrisnh]

Originally Posted by Myc

Ditto what TV said.

I use a 72 hour ice water dunk to get things started. Haven't noticed that tap water has any negative effects.
If you don't allow the bag to brown first, your first flush will be very mal-formed but the fruits are still tasty.

Good luck!

hmm, guess it's too late for that now. wish the instructions i got with it mentioned that, it was solid white and it said to put it into the FC right away and with no dunk

[Myc]

It's never too late to dunk. I dunk for 72 hrs between flushes as well.

10% H2O2 solution and a bag of ice or two.
Here's how mine turn out. These photos were taken within the hour.
IMG_1911.JPG
The one on top is just a few days old and I don't expect many normal fruits.
IMG_1910.JPG
The one on bottom is into its second flush. Just came out of the same 72 hr ice bath with its new partner.
IMG_1909.JPG

[chrisnh]

never too late? rally? good to know. i've heard that with cubes you never wanna dunk ones pins show. but i don't really see what i'd call pins showing with this block, just what you see in the pics. guess i'll do a dunk then thanks

[Myc]

To further bolster your confidence, this is what my blocks look like before I dunk them. Plenty - o - pins!
No worries and good luck!

[chrisnh]

sweet thanks. think i'm just going to do 24 this time. once i'm more confident i'll go for a longer dunk

[chrisnh]

i did a 24 hour dunk and 4 days later it doesn't really seem to be any further along than it was in the pic from before the dunk(post #6)

maybe i'm just used to mushrooms that fruit faster? or is this slower than it should be? thanks

[TVCasualty]

Did you chill them?

[chrisnh]

yup, 24 hour ice water dunk

[chrisnh]

5 days after the dunk, 12 after post 6 pic, there doesn't seem to be much going on. some browning, but can't really see any growth. thought for sure i'd be eating mushrooms by now. are my expectations unrealistic for shiitakes or is there something stalling the grow? thanks

[Myc]

Do you know what sub-strain this is?
What fruiting temp. does it prefer?

I'm not sure I'm seeing primordia on your block. The formations I'm used to seeing are quite large and very distinctive.

[chrisnh]

Originally Posted by Myc

Do you know what sub-strain this is?
What fruiting temp. does it prefer?

it's from sporeworks, not sure of the substrain but according to the email i got when asking about temps it should fruit between 55-85. it's between high 60s and low 70s in the room. humidity is pegged and the large tub is getting 2-3 air exchanges per sours with the pump.

here's a pic of the top right after a misting, looks a little diff than the sides.

[RockyRaccoon]

are the bumps fuzz mass , or spawn particles ?

[chrisnh]

Originally Posted by RockyRaccoon

are the bumps fuzz mass , or spawn particles ?

not sure, here's a better pic

[Myc]

I'm now seeing two or three pins on the top of your block.
They'll probably surprise you in the next few days and explode into fruitbodies.
The first flush is usually pretty small but after the block browns, the subsequent flushes will be larger.
Be patient. I still stand behind the 72 hr dunk.