Harvesting shiitake

Hi,  I have some shiitake logs I started about a year ago. The weather turned warm for a couple weeks and they started popping and now its cold out. should I pick them or is it ok to leave them in the cold? They are definitely not ready to harvest. Heres some that I did harvest. Thank you for your help.

To my limited knowledge your harvest should be good as long as they not get frozen - that would make them turn to slime as soon as they thaw.

Maybe cover them with plastic bags to improvise a greenhouse.

We've had something similar almost every late winter/early spring.  Usually we leave them on the logs.  Sometimes I cover with a tarp...blankets are good too.   Covering helps if it is just a night or two before it warms again.

The main problem is that they quit growing unless it warms again fairly quickly.

This year we had a surprise flush in a warm wet spell and picked all that were large and opened.  A few days later I picked the buttons because they were drying out and we expected more freezing temperatures.

Ours have never gotten mushy from freezing, they just quit growing and either dry out if there is no rain or mold if it rains a lot.

Rereading my post, I see I haven't given a definitive answer at all
It's just a judgement call every time, depending on the current weather and the forecast and the stage of the mushroom.

Judith Browning wrote:

Rereading my post, I see I haven't given a definitive answer at all
It's just a judgement call every time, depending on the current weather and the forecast and the stage of the mushroom.

 Thank you.  yes that helped. Sounds like mine have been doing well with the cold. I havent covered them any, I guess I got lucky. They havent dried out that ive notice. Definitely not mushy. temps down to mid 20s with snow. The only thing i have noticed is the slow growing, I have left them atleast two weeks maybe three and some were still not ready to harvest. How long do they normally take to grow? Thank you guys for the help.

How long do they normally take to grow?

It depends...if moisture and air temperature are just perfect for the particular variety that you're growing, once they have pinned they should be ready to harvest within a week (or so?)

If that growth is interrupted by cold or too dry they often just stop growing all together.

If they still look and feel fresh and are soft, not drying I would probably leave them awhile and just watch closely.

Otherwise cut them as buttons and enjoy

Those in your photo are beautiful examples...what variety do you grow?

We've usually stuck with what is called a 'wide range' type and the last time we plugged with 'bellwether', it is a cooler weather one...but the flush a couple weeks ago was both types at once

I just went and checked them, they were dried up. still ate them haha

Judith Browning wrote:

How long do they normally take to grow?

Those in your photo are beautiful examples...what variety do you grow?

Thank you
Im sorry I dont know. My wife bought them for me.

www.oystercreekmushroom.com/order.html

 This is where she bought them.