Nameko log kit

Nameko Mushroom Log Grow Kit

Ships every Wednesday...Grow your own Nameko mushrooms the simple, sustainable way — on logs, just as they grow in nature. This low-tech method avoids single-use plastics and produces harvests for years. Once established, each log can fruit for up to 5 years, bringing amber, glossy mushrooms with gentle umami and a silky texture to your kitchen.

Why Grow on Logs

Log growing is natural, durable and waste-free. It needs no plastic grow bags, no special equipment, and very little input once set up. It’s an ideal long-term project for gardeners who prefer slow, steady returns and want to work with nature rather than against it.

About Nameko

Nameko (Pholiota microspora) is prized in Japan for its mild, earthy-sweet flavour and smooth mouthfeel. It holds its shape well in soups, noodle dishes and hotpots, adding clean umami without overpowering other ingredients. Nameko is also a good source of beta-glucans and antioxidants.

What’s in the Kit

• 30 pre-colonised Nameko dowels (8mm x 35mm) – ready to inoculate your log
• Drill bit with depth stop – perfectly sized for the dowels
• Natural log-sealing wax
• Foam brush for sealing
• Printed instruction card – clear, step-by-step guidance

What You’ll Need

• A freshly cut hardwood log – birch, beech, alder or similar
• Power drill
• Mallet or hammer
• Heat source (for melting wax)
• Shady outdoor space – a sheltered corner of the garden works well

Before You Start

Keep dowels at room temperature for 2–3 days after delivery.

If not using immediately, store sealed in the fridge (not freezer) for up to 6 months.

Remove 24 hours before use to bring them to room temperature. Handle gently — they’re alive and growing.

Step 1: Prepare Your Log

Use a hardwood log 8–20 cm in diameter and 50–100 cm long. Cut within six weeks and rest for two weeks before inoculating. Avoid logs with existing fungal growth or rot.

Step 2: Drill and Plug

Drill holes 5–7 cm apart in a staggered pattern. Tap one dowel into each hole until flush with the surface.

Step 3: Seal

Melt the wax using gentle heat and brush over each hole and any exposed cuts. This locks in moisture and keeps contaminants out.

Step 4: Incubate

Place the log in a shady, sheltered area, slightly off the ground. Colonisation typically takes 6–12 months depending on wood and conditions. You’ll see white mycelium at the ends when it’s ready.

Step 5: Fruiting

Once colonised, logs fruit naturally after rain or temperature changes. To trigger a flush, soak in cold water for 24 hours and return to the shade. Mushrooms usually appear within a few days.

Ongoing Care

• Water during dry spells
• Soak once a year to rehydrate
• Keep off soil to prevent contamination

With care, your log can fruit repeatedly for years.

Harvest

Pick when caps are open but still firm. Twist or cut cleanly. Store in paper bags in the fridge or cook fresh; Nameko holds its texture well in soups and stir-fries.

Growing Nameko on logs is simple, sustainable, and rewarding — a slow process that gives back for years.