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Shiitake 3790 Liquid Culture FAQ
What is the scientific name of Shiitake 3790?
The scientific name for Shiitake 3790 is Lentinula edodes.
The number 3790 identifies the cultivated strain rather than a separate mushroom species. Shiitake 3790 is valued for its dependable performance, strong colonisation and attractive, uniform brown caps.
It is a hardwood-loving gourmet mushroom with a rich, savoury flavour and firm texture.
How is Shiitake 3790 different from other Shiitake strains?
Shiitake 3790 is a reliable block-production strain selected for consistent fruiting and good-quality mushrooms.
It commonly produces medium-sized, uniform caps with a firm texture. When fruited under cooler conditions, the mushrooms may develop darker, thicker and more heavily textured caps.
Warmer fruiting conditions can produce paler mushrooms with thinner caps. For the best quality, Shiitake 3790 generally performs well under cool to moderate fruiting temperatures.
Like all Shiitake strains, it requires patience. The substrate must fully colonise, mature, popcorn and develop a brown outer surface before it is ready to produce mushrooms.
What substrate is best for growing Shiitake 3790?
Shiitake 3790 grows particularly well on sterilised hardwood-based substrates.
Supplemented hardwood sawdust containing hardwoods such as oak or beech is an excellent choice for indoor cultivation. A moderate amount of wheat bran can provide additional nutrients and support healthy mycelial growth and mushroom production.
Supplemented hardwood substrate must be properly sterilised because its higher nutrient content makes it more susceptible to contamination.
Our 2kg Sterilised Hardwood and Wheat Bran Substrate provides a prepared fruiting substrate suitable for growing Shiitake 3790.
Shiitake can also be cultivated outdoors on suitable hardwood logs. However, log cultivation may take a year or longer before the first mushrooms appear.
For complete cultivation instructions, read our Shiitake mushroom growing guide.
Can I inoculate a grow bag directly?
Yes. Shiitake 3790 liquid culture can be injected directly into our Sterile Hardwood Mushroom Grow Bag using a sterile needle and the self-healing injection port.
The bag contains a sterilised hardwood-based substrate supplemented with wheat bran, allowing the liquid culture to be introduced without preparing and pressure sterilising your own growing medium.
After inoculation, leave the bag sealed while the mycelium colonises and matures. Shiitake grows more slowly than many Oyster mushrooms, so the bag may require several weeks or months before it is ready for fruiting.
A more traditional method is to inoculate sterilised grain first. Once the grain has fully colonised, it can be mixed with a sterilised hardwood fruiting substrate.
Using colonised grain helps distribute the mycelium evenly throughout the final substrate and can provide faster, more consistent colonisation.
Can Shiitake 3790 liquid culture be used on grain?
Yes. Sterilised grain is commonly used as the first stage of Shiitake 3790 cultivation.
The liquid culture can be injected into our 2kg Sterilised Wheat Grain Bag and allowed to colonise the grain, creating Shiitake 3790 grain spawn.
Once fully colonised, the grain spawn can be mixed with our 2kg Sterilised Hardwood and Wheat Bran Substrate.
Shiitake mycelium may appear finer and less densely white than Oyster mushroom mycelium. This does not necessarily indicate weak or unsuccessful growth.
Allow the grain to become fully colonised before transferring it to the hardwood fruiting substrate.
Do you sell sterilised grain and substrate?
Yes. We offer pre-sterilised wheat grain bags, sterilised hardwood and wheat bran substrate, and ready-to-inoculate hardwood grow bags to simplify the cultivation process.
Using prepared grain and substrate removes the need to hydrate, mix and pressure sterilise your own growing media. It reduces the amount of specialist equipment required and can help lower the risk of contamination.
A typical growing process is:
Inoculate a pre-sterilised grain bag with Shiitake 3790 liquid culture.
Allow the grain to become fully colonised with mycelium.
Mix the colonised grain spawn with sterilised hardwood and wheat bran substrate.
Allow the hardwood block to become fully colonised.
Wait for the surface to develop raised white bumps, known as popcorning.
Allow the block to mature and develop a firm brown outer surface.
Remove the mature block from the bag and introduce cool fruiting conditions.
Maintain high humidity, fresh air and gentle indirect lighting.
Harvest the mushrooms while the cap edges remain slightly curled underneath.
Alternatively, our Sterile Hardwood Mushroom Grow Bag provides a simpler all-in-one option.
The Shiitake 3790 liquid culture can be injected directly through the self-healing injection port without preparing separate grain or hardwood substrate.
Is Shiitake 3790 suitable for beginners?
Shiitake 3790 can be grown successfully by beginners, although it requires considerably more patience than fast-growing Oyster mushroom varieties.
The most important difference is the extended maturation stage. A Shiitake block should not be moved into fruiting conditions as soon as it appears white.
The block must first fully colonise, develop raised white bumps and form a firm brown outer surface. Fruiting the block too early may produce weak results or prevent mushrooms from forming.
Using pre-sterilised grain and ready-to-use hardwood substrate simplifies the process because you do not need to prepare and sterilise the growing media yourself.
The ready-to-inoculate hardwood grow bag is the most straightforward option for growers who want to inject the culture directly into a prepared Shiitake substrate.
How should I store the liquid culture?
Keep the Shiitake 3790 liquid culture syringe refrigerated at approximately 2°C to 4°C until you are ready to use it. Do not freeze it.
For the best viability, use the culture within three months of receiving it.
Before inoculation, allow the syringe to come closer to room temperature and shake it gently to distribute the Shiitake mycelium throughout the nutrient solution.
Always keep the protective cap fitted while the syringe is in storage. Attach a new sterile needle immediately before inoculating grain, agar or a grow bag.
How much liquid culture should I use?
The amount of liquid culture required depends on the size and type of growing medium.
For one of our sterile LME agar plates, one or two small drops are normally sufficient.
A small grain jar may require approximately 1 to 2 ml, while a larger grain or hardwood grow bag may require approximately 5 to 10 ml.
Using too much liquid culture can introduce excess moisture into the grain or substrate, which may increase the risk of bacterial contamination.
When inoculating our 2kg Sterilised Wheat Grain Bag, approximately 5 to 10 ml can be used and distributed across several areas of the grain.
Does the syringe contain mushroom spores?
No. Shiitake 3790 liquid culture contains living Lentinula edodes mycelium suspended in a sterile nutrient solution.
It is not a mushroom spore solution.
Because the mycelium is already actively growing, liquid culture can provide faster and more predictable colonisation than starting from spores.
The culture can be used to inoculate sterilised grain, a suitable hardwood grow bag or a sterile LME agar plate.
What conditions does Shiitake 3790 need to colonise?
Shiitake 3790 generally colonises well under moderate temperatures.
Suitable starting conditions include:
Temperatures of approximately 18°C to 24°C
A clean and stable growing environment
No direct sunlight
Gas exchange through the bag’s filter patch
Minimal disturbance while the mycelium becomes established
The bag should remain sealed throughout colonisation and maturation.
Shiitake is slower than many Oyster mushroom species. Depending on temperature, inoculation rate and the substrate, the block may require approximately 8 to 16 weeks to fully colonise and mature.
The mycelium may initially appear fine or patchy. As colonisation progresses, the block should become increasingly white before entering the popcorning and browning stages.
What are the popcorning and browning stages?
Once the Shiitake block is colonised, raised white bumps may begin developing across its surface. This is commonly known as the popcorning stage.
After popcorning, the outer surface should gradually change from white to brown. This creates a firm protective layer sometimes referred to as a rind or bark.
Browning is a normal and important part of Shiitake development. It does not usually indicate contamination.
Allow the block to become well browned and firm before attempting to fruit it. A fully white block may be colonised but still too immature to produce a strong flush.
Do not rush this stage. Proper maturation helps the block retain moisture and supports more reliable mushroom development.
What conditions does Shiitake 3790 need to fruit?
Shiitake 3790 generally produces its best-quality mushrooms under cool to moderate fruiting conditions.
Suitable starting conditions include:
Temperatures of approximately 13°C to 20°C
Ideal temperatures of approximately 15°C to 18°C
Relative humidity of approximately 85% to 95%
Regular fresh-air exchange
Gentle indirect daylight or artificial lighting
A clean growing environment with no direct sunlight
Cooler conditions may encourage darker, thicker and more strongly textured caps. Warmer fruiting conditions may produce paler mushrooms with thinner caps.
High humidity is especially important while the first pins are developing. However, the block and mushrooms should not remain constantly soaking wet.
Regular fresh-air exchange helps encourage broad caps and balanced mushroom development. Insufficient fresh air may produce long stems and small caps.
A digital thermometer and hygrometer can help you monitor conditions throughout colonisation, maturation and fruiting.
Does Shiitake 3790 need a cold shock or soak?
A mature Shiitake 3790 block may benefit from a drop in temperature and a cold-water soak before fruiting.
The block should first be fully colonised, firm and well browned. Do not soak a young or partially colonised block.
Once mature, the block can be soaked in clean, cold water for approximately 6 to 12 hours. Some growers place a clean weight on top to keep the block submerged.
After soaking:
Remove the block from the water.
Allow excess water to drain away.
Place the block into cool, humid fruiting conditions.
Provide regular fresh air and gentle indirect light.
Avoid allowing water to collect continuously on the block.
A cold-water soak is particularly useful when encouraging a mature block to produce its first flush or when attempting to trigger another flush after a resting period.
Should the grow bag be removed before fruiting?
Yes. Unlike Oyster mushrooms and Lion’s Mane, which are commonly fruited through a small cut in the plastic, a mature Shiitake block is normally removed from the bag before fruiting.
Wait until the block is fully colonised, popcorned, well browned and firm enough to hold its shape.
Carefully cut and remove the plastic without damaging the block. The exposed block can then be soaked if required and placed into a clean fruiting chamber or humidity-controlled growing area.
Maintain high humidity around the exposed block, but avoid keeping its surface constantly dripping wet.
Do not remove the plastic while the block is still soft, white or immature, as it may dry out or become contaminated before it is ready to fruit.
Why is my Shiitake block fully white but not fruiting?
A fully white Shiitake block is usually colonised but may not yet be mature enough to fruit.
The block should be allowed to popcorn and develop a firm brown outer surface before fruiting conditions are introduced.
Other possible causes include:
Fruiting temperatures that are too warm
Low humidity
Insufficient fresh-air exchange
Lack of indirect lighting
A block that has not received a temperature change or soak
Excessively dry substrate
Incomplete colonisation inside the block
If the block appears healthy but remains white, leave it sealed and allow additional maturation time.
Why are my Shiitake caps cracking?
Some cracking and patterned texture can be normal and desirable, particularly when Shiitake is grown under cooler conditions.
Heavy or irregular cracking may be caused by low humidity, rapid drying or sudden changes in environmental conditions.
Increase the surrounding humidity and avoid placing the mushrooms directly in strong airflow.
Do not continuously spray the caps. Maintain suitable environmental humidity while allowing the mushrooms to remain fresh rather than soaking wet.
When should Shiitake 3790 mushrooms be harvested?
Shiitake 3790 mushrooms are best harvested when the caps have expanded but their edges remain slightly curled underneath.
Do not wait until every cap becomes completely flat or begins curling upwards. Overmature Shiitake can become drier and may have a shorter storage life.
Harvest individual mushrooms by gently twisting them away from the block or cutting them cleanly near the base with a sterile knife.
Remove any remaining stem material from the block after harvesting.
Can a Shiitake block produce more than one flush?
Yes. A healthy Shiitake 3790 block may produce several flushes.
After harvesting:
Allow the block to rest for approximately one to three weeks.
Keep it in a clean area with moderate humidity and airflow.
Do not keep the block continuously wet.
Once rested, soak it again in clean, cold water for approximately 6 to 12 hours.
Drain the block and return it to fruiting conditions.
Later flushes may be smaller than the first, but a healthy, well-maintained block can continue producing mushrooms until its available nutrients are depleted.
Where are your Shiitake 3790 cultures shipped from?
All Shiitake 3790 liquid cultures are prepared fresh under sterile laboratory conditions and shipped directly from Ireland.
Each order includes a 10 ml Shiitake 3790 liquid culture syringe, a sterile 18G needle and an alcohol wipe.
Fast shipping is available to customers across Ireland, the UK, Europe, the United States and Canada.
