Emily Johnson
Puffball mushrooms are a group of mushrooms that includes several different species. They are unlike most other types of mushrooms in appearance, as they don't have gills, caps, or stems. Young puffballs are solid balls of spongy white tissue. They are also edible and release a cloud of spores when mature. Puffballs can be grown by amateur mushroom enthusiasts, but it is a tricky process. This guide will cover how to propagate them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom type | Puffball |
| Mushroom classification | True puffballs are white with white flesh when young, edible, and release a cloud of spores when mature. False puffballs and lookalikes may be toxic. |
| Mushroom shape | Spherical, without gills, caps, or stems |
| Mushroom colour | Young puffballs are white; mature puffballs turn shades of light to olive brown |
| Mushroom size | Giant puffballs can be over a foot in diameter; some species grow to 2 feet long |
| Mushroom habitat | Grassy areas, meadows, forest clearings, and on decaying wood |
| Mushroom nutrition | Saprobic, deriving nutrients from decomposing organic matter like leaf litter and grass thatch |
| Mushroom cultivation | Difficult to cultivate, but possible through sawdust substrate mushroom cultivation, using hardwood sawdust pellets, or with an inoculation kit |
| Mushroom harvesting | Harvest while still white, using a sharp knife to cut at the ground level, preserving the mycelium |
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What You'll Learn
Identify puffball mushrooms and distinguish them from toxic lookalikes
Puffball mushrooms are relatively easy to identify, but they have several deadly look-alikes, so it is important to be able to distinguish them from their toxic counterparts.
Puffballs are a type of fungus featuring a ball-shaped fruit body that, when mature, bursts on impact, releasing a cloud of dust-like spores. They are usually large, round, and white, and can be quite easy to spot. They do not have a visible stalk or stem, and they do not have an open cap with spore-bearing gills. Instead, they produce spores internally, in a spheroidal fruit body called a gasterothecium.
To identify a puffball mushroom, cut the mushroom in half from the top of the cap to the bottom. The inside of edible puffball mushrooms should be solid and pure white, with no patterning, marks, or colours inside, and especially no signs of gills. If there are any gills present, it is not a puffball mushroom.
Some toxic look-alikes to be aware of include the Amanita genus, which includes the destroying angel and death cap mushrooms, as well as Amanita verna, also known as Fool's Mushroom or Spring Amanita, which is highly toxic and can be deadly. These toxic mushrooms can look similar to puffballs during their early growth stages, so it is important to be able to identify the characteristics of edible puffballs before consuming them.
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Find puffballs in grassy areas or on decaying wood
Most puffball mushrooms grow in grassy areas like meadows, lawns, and fields. They are usually spherical and can be huge, reaching a foot or more in diameter. They grow on the ground and not on trees. They are saprotrophs, meaning they feed on dead organic matter.
When foraging for puffballs in grassy areas, look for spherical mushrooms that are pure white inside and lack gills. If the puffball has gills, it is not a puffball and may be toxic. If the puffball is soft, brownish, or full of spores, it is too mature to eat. Young puffballs are edible and are white with white flesh. They are usually seared, sautéed, or dried and powdered to be added to soups.
Puffballs are different from other mushrooms in that they grow wherever their spores land. They can move around from year to year, depending on how the wind carries their spores. However, once you find puffballs in one area, you can expect them to reappear in the same place each year.
Some puffballs grow on decaying wood, like the stump puffball, also called the pear-shaped puffball. These mushrooms are typically beige or light brown and grow in clusters on fallen logs and branches. They start out looking like other mushrooms but become hollow when they mature. Look for a small hole on top, where the spores are released.
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Prepare the substrate with sawdust spawn and nutrients
To prepare the substrate with sawdust spawn and nutrients, you will need to follow these steps:
First, source some hardwood sawdust pellets. It is important to use hardwood rather than softwood, as this will provide the right environment for your puffball mushrooms to grow. Next, sterilise the sawdust by boiling it. This will ensure that any unwanted bacteria or fungi are eliminated, giving your puffball mushrooms the best chance of success.
After sterilising the sawdust, you will need to cool it down. Spread the sawdust out on a tray or baking sheet to speed up this process. Once it is cool, you can transfer it into a container, such as a large bucket or barrel. The container should be clean and have a loose-fitting lid.
Now it's time to add the nutrients. Puffball mushrooms thrive on decomposing organic matter, so you will need to add a nitrogen source to your sawdust. You can use materials such as leaf litter, grass clippings, or straw. If you are using leaf litter or grass clippings, it is important to chop up the material into small pieces to increase the surface area for the mushrooms to feed on.
Finally, you will need to add water to your substrate. The water should be distilled, as chlorine can kill the spores. Add enough water to moisten the sawdust and nutrients without making it soggy. Mix everything together with a garden fork or your hands, wearing gloves. The substrate is now ready for your puffball mushroom spawn!
Remember, growing puffball mushrooms can be challenging, and even with the right conditions, it may take time and patience to see results.
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Harvest puffballs with a sharp knife while they are still white
Puffball mushrooms are a unique type of fungus, unlike most other mushrooms in appearance. They are spherical and solid, without any gills, stems, or caps. Young puffballs are edible and white, both inside and out. As they mature, the exterior and interior turn shades of light to olive brown.
When harvesting puffballs, it is important to use a sharp knife to cut them off at the ground. This will preserve the mycelium, allowing the puffballs to grow back year after year. Before cutting, check the bottom of the puffball for any larvae or worms. Insects love mushrooms, and puffballs are no exception. Cut away any signs of parasites to prevent them from infesting the rest of your harvest and to ensure your puffballs last longer.
When harvesting puffballs, it is crucial to identify them correctly and ensure they are young and safe to eat. True puffballs are always pure white inside, with a white exterior. Any discolouration indicates that the puffball is too mature for consumption and should be discarded. The centre of the puffball should be firm, not mushy. If the puffball has started to turn brown, yellow, or soft, it will be bitter and inedible.
To prepare puffballs for cooking, use a sharp knife to slice them. Slicing the puffball into thin pieces will allow you to use them as a substitute for pasta sheets in dishes like cannelloni or lasagna. You can also bread and fry the slices, as is traditional in some rural areas. Puffballs can be dehydrated or pureed to save space if they are too large to fit in the fridge.
Harvesting puffballs while they are still white and young ensures they are safe to consume and allows for various cooking methods, from frying to dehydration.
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Spread spores by bursting mature puffballs in a wooded area
Puffballs are a group of mushrooms that includes several different species. All true puffballs are edible when young, but some false puffballs and lookalikes can be toxic. Puffballs are spherical and do not have a cap or gills. Instead, the spores form in the gleba in the middle of the fruit body. When the puffballs mature, the gleba in the centre may turn yellow or green, indicating that they are no longer edible.
To propagate puffball mushrooms by bursting mature puffballs in a wooded area, follow these steps:
- Identify a mature puffball mushroom: Mature puffballs are typically light to olive brown in colour. They are also distinguishable by their spherical shape and the absence of a cap or gills.
- Locate the puffballs in a wooded area: Puffballs are commonly found in grassy areas, meadows, and forest clearings. They tend to favour well-fertilized areas and can sometimes be found in the undergrowth of deciduous forests.
- Burst the mature puffballs: You can do this by gently kicking or stepping on them. This will help release their spores, increasing the chances of new puffball mushrooms growing in that area.
- Avoid inhaling the spores: While releasing the spores can be fun, it is important to avoid inhaling them as they can irritate your lungs.
- Repeat the process: You can come back to the same area after a week or two and repeat the process of bursting mature puffballs to further propagate their growth.
By following these steps, you can effectively propagate puffball mushrooms by bursting mature puffballs in a wooded area.
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Frequently asked questions
Puffballs are a group of mushrooms that includes several different species. All true puffballs are edible, although there are some false puffballs and lookalikes to watch out for. They grow as solid spheres of fungus without any gills, caps, or stems.
True puffballs will be solid white inside. Anything else is a different type of mushroom that may cause an upset stomach or even severe poisoning. Only young puffballs are edible. If it is soft, brownish, or full of spores inside then it’s too mature for you to eat.
Puffball mushrooms are typically found in grassy areas or on decaying wood. They can be found in the wild or grown at home.
You can perform sawdust substrate mushroom cultivation at home by making sawdust spawn and using simple ingredients to create the substrate. Make sure to use hardwood sawdust pellets. Alternatively, you can pour a mixture of spawn and water onto a lawn, grassy field, or other area where you have seen puffball mushrooms growing. Keep the area misted every couple of days and wait.
You can kick or step on the mushroom to help release its spores, which will increase the chances of finding more puffballs in that area later on.
