Chicken of the Woods is one of the easier mushrooms to spot growing in the wild due to its large size and vibrant color. These traits will make it even more satisfying to grow in your backyard! If you plan on using them to cook, be sure to harvest Chicken of the Woods mushrooms when young to avoid a brittle texture. They have a lemony, meaty taste with a texture similar to chicken and go great in soups and stir-fries.
When taken regularly, Chicken of the Woods is helpful in improving general health and strengthening the immune system. In one study, the mushroom promoted activity against human leukemia cells and the parasite that causes Malaria (Rogers, 2011). Additionally, a chemical constituent of Chicken of the Woods, dehydrotrametenolic acid, has been shown to reduce high blood sugar (Sato, M. et al. 2002). As the mushroom ages, it can be burned to repel mosquitoes and black flies (Rogers, 2011).
Difficulty: Expert!
Chicken of the Woods is a very difficult mushroom species to cultivate. Great for experimenting and having fun trying new methods.
Inoculation: Chicken of the Woods does best in oak logs. After colonization period in filter patch bags above ground, Chicken of the Woods logs should be partially buried under 2 inches of top soil. The mushrooms will fruit from logs and emerge out of the soil.
*It should be noted that Chicken of the Woods is prone to being out competed by other fungi and is not a reliable producer without first treating your logs. To limit variables we strongly suggest you sterilize 8" by 8" segments of oak log in a pressure cooker or steam sterilizer before inoculation and incubate your log segments for a few months in sealed filter patch bags until they are completely colonized. Remove them from the bag and partially burying them in a shady location
You can sterilize your log segments in a 22 qt or larger pressure cooker such as an All-American*
Spawn is living and perishable.
It can live unrefrigerated for up to three months, though it is best to keep it refrigerated for long-term storage.
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