Strain 3790 is a widely grown commercial shiitake, developed for supplemented sawdust blocks. This plate carries a first-generation isolate of that line, so you can expand it onto grain, run it straight into sawdust or bank it for later.
- L. edodesSpecies
- Strain 3790Genetics
- 14–21 daysTo cover a plate
- 50–70°FFruiting temp
- 5–8Plates from one
Why start with our Shiitake 3790 plate
Built for blocks
Selected for supplemented sawdust production, and it also runs well on oak, sugar maple and beech logs.
Repeat harvests
Well-managed blocks commonly give two to three flushes.
Stores well
Shiitake handles refrigeration better than most species, which makes this a good plate to keep in a culture library.
Browning is normal: As shiitake matures it turns brown and forms bumpy 'popcorn' growth. That's the culture getting ready to fruit, not contamination, and our inspectors are trained to tell the difference.
Where one plate can take you
1Grain jars or bags
Cut a wedge about the size of a pencil eraser for each quart jar or bag of sterilized grain. Expect full colonization in about 21–28 days.
2Liquid culture
Drop a small wedge into sterilized broth to grow a liquid culture you can draw syringes from.
3More plates
Slice the culture and transfer the pieces to fresh agar. One plate typically yields 5–8 new plates for a backup library.
4Pick the best
Choose the fastest, cleanest-looking growth and carry only that section forward to keep the line strong.
Shiitake 3790 plate specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|
| Scientific name | Lentinula edodes |
| Strain / source | 3790, a widely grown commercial strain developed for supplemented sawdust |
| Genetics | First-generation isolate from our master culture |
| Medium | Malt extract agar (MEA), about 18 mL |
| Dish | 90mm polypropylene, sealed with Parafilm |
| Mycelium appearance | White, browning with age into a dense, bumpy 'popcorn' texture |
| Time to cover agar | 14–21 days at 70–75°F |
| Time to colonize grain | 21–28 days |
| Fruiting temperature | 50–70°F |
| Fruiting substrates | Supplemented hardwood sawdust (preferred), hardwood pellets, oak, sugar maple or beech logs |
| Skill level | Intermediate |
| Storage (sealed) | 60–90 days at 55–70°F in the dark; 6–9 months refrigerated at 35–40°F |
| Ships | Within 1 business day by USPS Priority Mail |
Common questions
How long does a shiitake block take?
Plan on 2–4 months from spawning to first harvest, including a browning phase of 2–4 weeks.
Do I need grain spawn for shiitake?
Not necessarily. Shiitake can go from agar directly into sterilized supplemented sawdust, skipping the grain step.
How long can I keep the plate before using it?
Left sealed and stored somewhere dark at 55–70°F, it stays viable for 60–90 days. In the fridge at 35–40°F it holds for 6–9 months. Shiitake is one of the most refrigeration-tolerant species, so it's a good choice for long-term storage.
What if my plate arrives contaminated?
Every plate is inspected before it ships. If you see green or black fuzz, a pink or orange sheen, wet spreading patches or a sour smell, email us a photo within 5 days of delivery and we'll replace it free.
Made in our lab, shipped fast
We pour each plate with about 18 mL of agar, inoculate it in front of HEPA-filtered laminar flow, seal it with Parafilm and grow it out in a dedicated clean room. It's 90mm, using a polypropylene dish that flexes instead of cracking, so a bump in transit won't split the plate and break the seal. Every plate gets a visual check before packing, and anything questionable is discarded instead of shipped. Most plates show 90–100% coverage when they ship.
Because we keep colonized plates in stock instead of starting them when you order, yours usually leaves the lab within one business day. Plates travel by USPS Priority Mail, typically 2–4 days, in insulated, padded packaging, with a free cold pack from May through September and for hot-climate addresses. Orders with several items can take an extra 1–2 business days.
Shiitake 3790 on MEA
Healthy, even growth
When it arrives: Look it over within 24 hours. A little condensation on the lid is normal. Keep it sealed, cool and dark at 55–70°F until you're ready to work.