How to Grow Honey Mushrooms

Obtain the spores for honey mushrooms. They are available at mushroom supply stores.

Choose the appropriate growing medium for honey mushrooms. Because they grow on woody material in nature as opposed to compost, use sterile hardwood sawdust such as oak sawdust, wood chips or straw. These are available at garden centers. Sterilized medium is important; otherwise, other organisms may grow and affect your mushroom crop.

Lay the growing medium out in a container. Use a cardboard box, baking pan, plastic jar or seeding trays. It doesn't matter how deep or large the container is. The mushrooms will fight for space and grow in a cluster outward, seeking new sources of nourishment. Make the growing medium at least 2 inches deep.

Spread the spores out on top of the growing medium. Sprinkle them throughout the container; they grow in clusters and do not need a certain amount of space between them. Put the container in a dark spot where you can control the temperature. Let it sit in 70-degree Fahrenheit temperature for at least three weeks. Do not bother the container during this time.

Lower the temperature to 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread 1 inch of potting soil over the spawn. Lay a damp cloth down on top of the mixture.

Keep the cloth and soil consistently moist until the honey mushrooms grow. Mist them with water to dampen them if they dry out.

Wait for the mushrooms to colonize, which takes about 30 days. The mushrooms mature in about another 20 days. Once you see a separation between the cap and the stem, harvest the mushrooms.