Mushroom Plug Spawn: Is It Worth Growing Yourself?

a gardener in a sunny outdoor setting, hammering mushroom plug spawn into a log with a focused expression, surrounded by a lush forest clearing and scattered logs

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Plug spawn helps mushrooms grow on logs for up to 8 years. How long depends on the kind of mushroom and how you care for them.
Hardwood logs like oak and maple work well for shiitake, lion’s mane, and oyster mushrooms. They are good wood for them to grow on.
Making your own plug spawn can save money. But it might get dirty and takes time.
Buying plug spawn gives you a better chance of success. You don't need a clean lab space.
It usually takes 6 to 18 months for mushrooms to grow all through the logs before you see the first ones.

Growing your own mushrooms on logs with plug spawn is a good way to grow tasty or medicinal mushrooms outside. It keeps working and gives you rewards. Maybe you are using wood from a storm, or you want more food for your garden. This method needs little care and lets you grow mushrooms in your yard for a long time.

What Is Mushroom Plug Spawn?

Mushroom plug spawn means small hardwood pieces (usually oak or maple) that have mushroom mycelium growing on them. Mycelium is like the root part of fungi. It grows and gets food from the wood. You put these wood pieces into freshly cut logs or stumps. Then the mycelium keeps growing and fills the wood over time.

This is like how mushrooms break down fallen wood in forests naturally. Once the mycelium is all through the log, mushrooms will pop out of the wood when it's wet enough and the weather is right. You put the plug spawn into holes drilled into the logs. You often cover the holes with beeswax or cheese wax. This keeps the wood wet and stops bugs or other fungi from getting in.

Growing with plug spawn is different from growing mushrooms in bags or tubs. Plug spawn sets up an outdoor system that lasts a while. It doesn't need much work but gives you harvests over many years.

Stacked hardwood logs for mushroom growing in shady backyard

Why Grow Mushrooms on Logs or Stumps?

Growing mushrooms on logs or stumps with plug spawn is more than just interesting. It's a very good way to produce food that lasts and is good for the environment. Here is why it is a top choice

Natural and Good for the Earth

This method uses wood really well that would otherwise go to waste. This could be wood from cutting tree branches, limbs broken by storms, or trees cut down for other reasons. You are letting fungi break down dead wood, like in a forest. This turns the wood into food and later into rich soil.

Needs Little Work Later

Once you put the spawn in the logs, you can mostly let them grow and make mushrooms by themselves when the seasons are right. You might need to water them sometimes if it's very dry. Other than that, the logs take care of themselves in a shady spot in your yard or garden.

Production Lasts Years

The kind of mushroom and wood you use affects how long a log will produce. But one log can make mushrooms for many years. For example, shiitake logs you take care of can make mushrooms 1 to 2 times a year for 4 to 6 years or even more (Beyer, 2017).

Saves Money and Can Grow

After you set things up at the start, the mushrooms you get from the plug spawn can be worth a lot. You can begin with just a few logs. And then you can add more logs once you feel good about it.

Good Quality and Healthy

Mushrooms you grow at home feel good to eat and don't have added chemicals or things to keep them fresh like store-bought ones. You get to enjoy them very fresh and they taste better.

Shiitake mushrooms sprouting from hardwood oak log

Top Mushroom Types That Grow Well on Logs

Some kinds of mushrooms grow well on logs, but not all of them do. Different kinds like different wood. They also grow at different speeds and produce mushrooms at different times.

**Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)**

Good for: People new to growing and people who cook a lot.
Likes this wood: Oak, beech, or sugar maple logs (hard, thick wood).
Looks and tastes like this: Thick, good-tasting tops; feels like meat.
When you get mushrooms: Once or twice a year for 4 to 6 years.

People know shiitake mushrooms because they taste strong and you can use them in many dishes. They grow well in hardwood logs and keep producing for a long time.

**Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus)**

Good for: Using for health reasons and for cooking.
Likes this wood: Beech, oak, poplar.
Looks and tastes like this: White parts hanging down; tastes like lobster or crab.
When you get mushrooms: Usually grows in fall or spring.

More and more people like lion’s mane for how it might help the brain and its special taste like seafood. It grows surprisingly well on logs if it stays wet enough and has shade.

**Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus)**

Good for: Growing fast and using different kinds of wood.
Likes this wood: Elm, poplar, aspen, and even softer wood like pine (but not as good).
Looks and tastes like this: Grows in bunches; has thin tops; tastes mild.
When you get mushrooms: Grows through the wood in just 4 to 6 months.

Oysters grow very fast through the wood. They can handle conditions that aren't perfect better than most kinds. This makes them good for people new to growing or systems that don't need much work.

**Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)**

Good for: Using for health reasons.
Likes this wood: Oak, hemlock, and maple.
Looks and tastes like this: Shiny, reddish shelf shape; called the “mushroom of lasting life.”
When you get mushrooms: Takes a long time to grow through the wood (12–18 months). Then you get them once a year.

Reishi mushrooms are well-known in Eastern medicine. But they need patience and very certain conditions. This makes them better for people who have grown mushrooms before.

**Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)**

Good for: Health products that help your body's defenses.
Likes this wood: Many different kinds of hardwood.
Looks and tastes like this: Colorful rings one inside the other; feels strong and like leather.
When you get mushrooms: Once a year or sometimes, depending on how wet it is.

You don't eat this tough mushroom. But people value it for its health benefits. It grows well even when conditions aren't great, especially in wet, shady places.

Visual comparison of plug, sawdust, and grain mushroom spawn

Plug Spawn Compared to Other Spawn Types

There are different kinds of mushroom spawn. But for growing outside on logs, plug spawn is often the best choice. Here is how it is different:

Spawn Type	Good For	Good Things	Not Good Things
Plug Spawn	Using outside on logs/stumps	Easy to use, clean, simple setup	Grows through wood slower than other kinds
Sawdust Spawn	Big growing places	Grows through wood fast, lots of mycelium	Needs a tool to put in sawdust; might dry out
Grain Spawn	Bags, growing inside	Grows through wood very fast	Can easily get dirty
Liquid Culture	Study & making copies	Stays good for a long time, easy to copy	Needs very clean spaces and know-how

Plug spawn is inside wood pieces. This helps it stay wet, stops it from getting dirty, and you don't need special lab skills. This makes it good for people doing this as a hobby or on a small scale.

Person preparing mushroom spawn at home with dowels and clean tools

Should You Make Your Own Plug Spawn?

Making mushroom plug spawn at home is an interesting project if you have grown things before. Or maybe you are new but feel okay using clean methods.

Good Things

Saves Money: You can really cut costs, especially if you are putting it in many logs.
Try New Things: Lets you try rare kinds or grow from wild mushrooms you find.
Learn Skills: Teaches you the main ideas of growing fungi and clean lab methods.

Not Good Things

More Complex: You need tools like pressure cookers and know how to keep things clean.
Risk of Getting Dirty: One mistake when putting in the spawn or waiting for it to grow can ruin a whole batch.
Takes Time: Waiting 1 to 2 months for the spawn to grow through the wood before you can use the plugs.

Most of the time, making your own plug spawn is good for learning or when you need a very large amount. But if you are doing smaller projects or want to be sure it works well, buying it from a trusted seller is often better.

Glass jar containing mushroom plug spawn growing on dowels

How to Make Plug Spawn at Home

Want to try making your own mushroom spawn? Here is how to make plug spawn from the start

Step-by-Step Guide

Get Tools & Materials
- Hardwood wood pieces (about ¼” to ⅜” wide x 1” long)
- Grain spawn with your mushroom growing on it
- Pressure cooker, glass jars with special tops, or special bags
- Clean gloves, rubbing alcohol, and a clean place to work
Get Dowels Ready and Clean Them
- Put dowels in water for 12 to 24 hours
- Put them in jars or bags and clean them using the pressure cooker at 15 PSI for 90 to 120 minutes
- Let them cool down to room temperature
Put in the Grain Spawn
- In a clean space (maybe a box with still air), mix the cooled dowels with the grain spawn that has mushrooms growing on it
- Shake or stir so it is spread out evenly
- Close the containers and write on them what kind it is and the date
Let It Grow
- Keep in a dark spot where the temperature is 65–75°F
- Check every week to see if white mycelium is growing evenly
- Wait 4 to 8 weeks for the mycelium to grow all through the dowels
Keep & Use
- Use right away or put in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 months
- Throw away if it has mold, smells bad, or changes color

Buying Plug Spawn: Quick, Simple, and Sure to Work

For most people growing mushrooms, buying plug spawn is the quicker, cleaner, and more dependable way to go. Here is why it might be the better choice

Already Ready to Use: When it arrives, it is often alive and ready to put into logs that same day.
Clean from a Lab: Less chance of getting dirty and makes sure the mycelium grows strongly.
Many Kinds to Choose: You can get better kinds known for growing strong and making lots of mushrooms.
Easy to Use: No need to get things ready, use a pressure cooker, or work in a super clean space.

Most sellers sell plug spawn in groups of 100 to 1,000 pieces. This is enough for several logs. It is great for starting a mushroom spot in your yard or growing more logs later.

Freshly cut oak logs ideal for mushroom growing

Choosing the Right Logs or Stumps

Mushroom plug spawn only grows well when you put it into the right kind of wood. Picking the correct log is very important.

Things to Think About

Wood Type: Hardwoods like oak, sugar maple, alder, and beech are the best. Don't use woods like cedar or pine because they have stuff in them that stops things from growing.
How Fresh: Logs should be cut 2 to 6 weeks ago. Not too fresh (too wet), but not too old either (other things might be growing on it).
Size: It is good if they are 3 to 8 inches wide and 2 to 4 feet long.
Shape: Look for thick logs with the bark still on. They should not show signs of mold, rot, or bug damage.

If you can, stack logs off the ground in a shaded spot. Let them sit for 2 to 3 weeks before putting in the spawn. This helps the wood have the right amount of wetness.

Person using drill on logs to insert mushroom plug spawn

How to Put Plug Spawn into Logs

Now it is time to use your plug spawn

Tools

Drill with a 5/16” drill bit (or a size that fits your plugs)
Hammer or soft hammer
Wax for food (cheese wax or beeswax)
Tool to put on wax: small brush, cotton swab, or a tool like a turkey baster

Steps

Drill Holes
- Drill holes 4 to 6 inches apart in rows along the log. Make a diamond shape with the holes.
- Holes should be about 1 inch deep, or as deep as your plug is long.
Put in Plug Spawn
- Gently tap each wood piece until it is flat with the bark. Use the hammer.
Cover with Wax
- Melt wax in a pot over water (like a double boiler). Dab wax onto each hole until it is fully covered.
Mark and Stack Logs
- You might want to use labels that won't get ruined by weather. Write the mushroom kind and the date.
- Stack logs like a log cabin or lean them together like a tent. Put them in a shaded, wet area.

If they are in the right place and stay wet, the mycelium will grow inside the wood. You will start seeing mushrooms after 6 to 18 months.

Shiitake mushrooms fruiting from outdoor hardwood log

Time and What Happens with Plug-Spawned Logs

Knowing how long things take helps you know what to expect.

Growing Inside: 6 to 18 months. How long depends on the mushroom kind, wood type, and weather (Kozak & Krawczyk, 1993).
First Mushrooms: Usually 12 to 18 months after you put in the spawn.
More Mushrooms: 1 to 2 times a year (spring/fall) if conditions are good.
How Many Years They Make Mushrooms: 2 to 8 years, depending on the mushroom kind (Stamets, 2000).

You can make logs start making mushrooms by soaking them in cold water for 12 to 24 hours. This can help when it is dry.

Person watering mushroom logs stacked in shaded garden

Taking Care of Your Mushroom Logs So They Stay Healthy

To make your mushroom logs last longer and keep making mushrooms

Keep Them Wet: Water them when it is dry. Or soak them in water sometimes.
Check for Bugs and Mold: Take away logs that look bent or damaged.
Give Them Shade: Keep them out of direct sun and strong winds that dry them out.
Let Air Move: Don't stack them too close. This stops mold or rot that happens without air.

Taking good care of them helps you get mushrooms for many years.

Is It Worth Making Your Own Plug Spawn?

Your choice depends on what you want to do and how much you know

If you are

Curious and want to learn how to work in a clean way
Planning to put spawn in many logs
Interested in rare kinds or growing fungi as a fun thing to do...

Then making your own plug spawn might be worth the work.