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Spore & Culture

Plug Spawn

Mycelium-colonised wooden dowels for inoculating logs and stumps.

Illustration of a plug spawn
Typical specifications
Dowels per pack100 – 1000
Dowels per log40 – 60 per metre
Drill bit diameter8 – 12 mm
Hole depth25 – 35 mm
Log diameter10 – 30 cm
Colonisation6 – 18 months
Spore & CultureOutdoor logs and stumps

Overview

Plug spawn is a set of hardwood dowels fully colonised by mycelium, sized to be tapped into drilled holes in fresh logs or stumps. It is the standard method for outdoor mushroom patches, where the log itself becomes the substrate and yields return seasonally for years.

Primary stage: Colonization

Where it fits in the grow

Tapped into drilled holes in freshly cut hardwood, sealed with wax.

Safety & handling

Use logs cut within the last few weeks from healthy trees. Aged or already-decaying wood carries competing fungi that will outcompete your spawn.

Practical advice

Inoculate in late winter or early spring while sap is low and the log is still moist. Keep the log shaded and watered through the first summer — the mycelium is most vulnerable in its first dry season.

Educational only. Mycelium Works does not sell this or any other product, and we receive no payment for listing it. Specifications vary by manufacturer — always follow the maker’s instructions and local regulations.
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