How to safely puncture large holes in shiitake logs during high-temperature periods?

How to safely puncture large holes in shiitake logs during high-temperature periods?

If the temperature remains above 30°C, Firstly cool down the cultivation shed: you can use fans and water curtains, or spray water as much as possible on cultivation shed top to prevent hot air coming down inside

In addition, the following points should be noted when puncturing large holes in shiitake logs:

1.Tubercles: During high-temperature periods, when puncturing large holes, there must not be too many or overly large tubercles , It is sufficient to have only a few small tubercles. Generally, 7-10 days after mycelium has fully colonized the logs, when the sticks turn white and the wood chips are no longer visible, it indicates that the mycelium has re-colonized properly. At this point, large holes can be punctured regardless of the tubercles presence.

2.Number and depth of large holes: During high temperatures, the number of large holes should not be excessive, nor should they be too deep. More and deeper holes mean more wounds on the logs, increasing the risk of contamination by miscellaneous bacteria and black water leakage. Typically, 40-50 holes are sufficient, with a depth of 2-3 cm, The needle holes should not be too thick either. as greater irritation to the logs will cause them to generate more heat, making them more prone to damage.

3.Timing of puncture large holes: It is crucial to choose times when temperatures are low in the morning or evening. Newly punctured shiitake logs need to release heat and moisture while absorbing fresh air to maintain mycelium activity. If the external temperature is too high, the logs will be unable to release heat and moisture, and hot external air will enter the log, raising their internal temperature and impairing mycelium activity.

4.Temperature of puncture large holes: Generally, if the shiitake log temperature is below 25°C, big holes can be punctured throughout the day. If the temperature exceeds 25°C, even reaching 28°C or higher, big holes must be punctured in batches per cultivation shed—2,000-3,000 shiitake logs per batch per cultivation shed—to avoid concentrated heat generation. Additionally, a sufficient temperature difference must be ensured, allowing the temperature to drop at night.