Morels and morels are popular among mushroom pickers, but the well-hidden fruit bodies usually escape the untrained eye. Anyone who knows where the species grow has a good chance of finding them. However, a mycelium does not bear fruit every year.
Morels are the first edible mushrooms that you can see in the forest in the year
When morels grow
The sac mushrooms are typical spring species and mark the start of the mushroom season. Depending on the regional location and weather, you can find the first mushrooms as early as March. The main season for this species is from April to June.
The Harvest Window
In the foothills of the Alps, morels sprout in spring from March at the earliest and usually at the beginning of April. By May they have completed their growth phase and final spore dispersal. In central Germany, the season is pushed back about two weeks. Here you can harvest the edible mushrooms between the second week of April and the end of May.
That's what morels need
The decisive factor for a rich mushroom year is the weather. Morchella esculenta has special requirements in terms of temperature and humidity. It is less important for fungal growth whether the winter was short or long with little snow, high precipitation. Rather, it depends on the conditions in spring, when the fungus is already growing.
What affects growth
In spring, the morel needs a combination of warm temperatures, moisture and a good supply of nutrients. Rainy spring months with temperatures around freezing have a negative impact on development. If the thermometer rises into the double-digit range during the rainy season, the fungal filaments, which are combined into knots, grow and form a fruiting body. Strong solar radiation in combination with large amounts of snow has the same effect, because the sun warms the soil and ensures a good moisture balance. Windless conditions also favor the occurrence of fungi.
Unfavorable factors:
- prolonged drought
- cold temperatures
- strong winds
- little or no precipitation
harvest tips
To preserve the yield, you can dry the morels. At 50 degrees and circulating air, the fruiting bodies lose their moisture within a few hours. The drying process in the sun is gentler. Small specimens can be dried whole, while large mushroom bodies should be cut in half.
Where to look
Morels are part of the defining image of alluvial and deciduous forests or meadows, where they colonize a variety of habitats. Occasionally they can be found in orchards and bushes. Humus-rich and calcareous soils are important. Morels rarely grow on sandy and acidic substrates. If you want to collect the mushrooms, look out for ash and fruit trees. Wild garlic is an indicator plant for calcareous, moist and nutrient-rich soil, which is why you can expect morels in a sea of wild garlic leaves.
tips
When cowslips or forsythia bloom, you should start looking. At the appropriate locations and with optimal weather conditions, you have a good chance of a rich morel harvest.