Inoculate the log by drilling holes partway into the log. Then carefully packed these holes with the spawn and seal them with wax to retain moisture and keep out competing organisms. Allowing shiitake to colonize the wood. Once the mushroom has been introduced to the log via inoculation it takes 4 - 9 months, depending upon climate, for the mycelia to spread throughout the log. To induce fruiting the logs are soaked then shaded to keep the moisture level up until fruiting begins.
Yields are quite variable.
In some cases the spawn will not run through the log and no mushrooms will be produced. The highest yields are only attainable when all conditions are near ideal. The logs can be refruited several times without additional inoculation and can produce mushrooms for several years depending upon how often they are fruited. There are several additional steps that must be pursued by an entrepreneur to bring the shiitake crop to the market and ultimate sale. Crop harvesting, packaging, storing, transporting, and marketing are some of the vital and important steps that are necessary.