Northern honey mushroom, lat. Armillaria borealis is a species of fungi of the genus Honey mushrooms of the Physalacriaceae family.
Hat 2-12cm in diameter; yellowish brown to bright ocher or orange-brown, often with an olive tint and a distinctive olive-honey color on the disc. The center of the cap is generally less colored, sometimes it becomes golden yellow, but without lemon nuances; further to the edge, the color becomes dirty dark yellow. The edge is translucent striped, slightly woolly. The scales are small, the color of the cap or slightly darker, yellowish-cream, ocher, brown or olive to dark brown, more numerous towards the center of the cap.
The plates are weakly descending, white, then buffy-cream.
The leg is up to 10x1.5 cm in size, thin, cylindrical, sometimes slightly tuberous expanding downward, reaching 2 cm at the base. The color of the leg is from ocher to brownish below, with yellowish-white pubescence or fibers, in the upper part with a light, easily washable bloom from spore powder. Below the ring, the leg is covered with sparse, flaky, whitish, yellowish or yellow-brown, fluffy-tomentose scales, arranged randomly.
The ring is well developed, thick, at first fibrous-cotton-like, then resembling a thick film or almost a flesh; usually single or double, white or whitish to cream, beige or brown with age. On the underside of the ring there is a necklace of yellow or ocher fluffy felt scales that turn dark brown with age.
The pulp in the cap and upper part of the leg is dense, beige, below it is white, similar to dense cotton wool; the surface of the leg is harder, on the cut it forms a characteristic dark ring around the lighter pulp, with a pleasant mushroom smell.
Northern honey mushroom (Armillaria borealis) is very similar to autumn honey mushroom (Armillaria mellea) and to thick-legged honey mushroom (Armillaria lutea).
Fruiting in late August - early winter, most abundantly in the first half of September. Fruit bodies grow in bunches, in large groups, found on any, both deciduous and coniferous trees.
Grown at home like any wood-destroying mushroom. The main thing is not to be mistaken in choosing a mycelium supplier. High-quality healthy "mushroom seeds" are the key to a good harvest!
INSTRUCTIONS FOR GROWING WOOD-DESTROYING MUSHROOMS
Instructions for growing wood-destroying mushrooms on plant residues in bags (intensive method)
1. Substrate homogeneous (eg only straw) or combined in any proportions of two or more components (eg straw + hay + sawdust) place in a container and pour boiling water.
2. Allow the steamed substrate to cool naturally to room temperature.
3. Squeeze well and mix thoroughly with mycelium (1 pack per 4 kg of moistened substrate).
4. Place in a transparent polyethylene bag, crinkling slightly. Tie up.
5. For air exchange, make several cuts of 3-5 cm across the entire area of the bag.
6. It turned out a ready-made mushroom block. The blocks are placed indoors or in a shady place in the garden in different ways, however you like, but it is better to hang them.
7. During the germination period (3-4 weeks), light is not required. First, fluff is observed, then the substrate will take on a white or slightly yellowish color and turn into a dense block.
8. After another 1.5-2 weeks. the rudiments of fruiting bodies appear. Light is already required.
9. In those places of the rudiments of fruiting bodies, cuts are made in the film. Fruiting takes place in waves in 2-3 weeks. between them. The first 2 waves bring the greatest yield.
Instructions for growing wood-destroying mushrooms on deciduous non-rotten wood (extensive method)
1. Bars, logs, pieces, etc. can be of any size, but preferably 30-40 cm long and 25 cm in diameter. They are soaked in water for a week. Freshly sawn ones can not be soaked or 1-2 days.
2. Holes are drilled or sawed into the bar, mycelium is introduced (1up per 4 kg), the holes are sealed with adhesive tape or laid with straw, or plugged with a cotton / paper swab, or covered in another way.
3. The period of mycelium overgrowth is 3-6 months. at t + 7 + 27.
4. Placed in a shady place in the garden or in a ventilated area.
5. Obtaining a harvest - 1-2 times in the spring and 1-2 times in the fall, it is possible that there will be a harvest in the summer under favorable climatic conditions.