Emily Johnson
Mushrooms are fungi that require warmth, moisture, and food to grow. Spring is the season when mushrooms bloom and sprout, and daytime temperatures consistently reach 40°F or higher. Mushroom varieties like morels, oysters, and boletes are some of the most common edible mushrooms that can be found in the spring. Morels, for example, grow from as early as late April until the middle of June. They can be found in temperate regions under hardwoods and conifer trees or near garden edges. Other factors that indicate mushroom blooming include the blooming of lilacs and the presence of buds on trees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Season | Spring |
| Temperature | 40°F or higher |
| Moisture | Damp or moist environment |
| Mushroom Types | Morels, Oysters, Boletes, Wood Ear, Shiitake, Wine Cap |
| Locations | Temperate regions, hardwoods, conifer trees, dying trees, disturbed areas, logged woods, garden edges, compost, fir or pine trees |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms bloom in spring
Spring is also the ideal time to plant mushroom logs. It is recommended to cut logs during the dormant season before the buds swell in spring, and planting in spring allows more time for mushrooms to colonize the log. Mushroom beds should be kept moist and partially shaded, often located under conifer trees or in vegetable gardens.
While spring brings a variety of mushrooms, it's important to be cautious as some varieties are poisonous. Certain mushrooms, like Verpas, can cause allergic reactions when ingested with alcohol. Proper identification and preparation are crucial before consuming any wild mushrooms.
The blooming of lilacs and other buds on trees can be used as indicators of mushroom season, which excites many foragers and chefs eager to find these spring treats.
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Ideal temperature for mushroom growth
Mushrooms are a delicate crop with specific requirements for successful growth. Temperature control is one of the most crucial factors in cultivating mushrooms, and it can be tricky as the ideal temperature range for mushroom growth is narrow. Small fluctuations can impact growth rates and quality. Therefore, maintaining a consistent temperature is vital.
The ideal temperature range for mushroom growth varies depending on the species. Most mushrooms prefer a temperature range between 65-75 °F. During the incubation stage, which lasts for about two to three weeks, the temperature needs to be maintained between 65-75 °F for the formation of the mycelium, the vegetative part of the mushroom.
Once the mycelium has formed, the temperature needs to be lowered to around 60-65 °F to encourage the growth of the fruiting bodies. This transition from mycelium to the actual fruiting body, the mushroom we harvest, necessitates a shift in conditions. Oyster mushrooms, a favourite among cultivators for their resilience and rapid growth, flourish in a cooler range, with an ideal temperature between 55-65 °F (13-18 °C). Shiitake mushrooms, on the other hand, favour slightly warmer conditions, with ideal fruiting temperatures hovering around 50-60 °F (10-16 °C).
It is important to note that some varieties of mushrooms are more sensitive to temperature changes than others, and different strains of the same species may prefer different temperatures. For example, blue oyster mushrooms thrive at 70-72 °F, while some strains of the same species prefer it colder or warmer.
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Morel mushrooms
When hunting for morel mushrooms, it is important to pay attention to the temperature and moisture levels. They thrive when the temperature at night doesn't dip below 50°F, and they favour moist soil, so snowy winters followed by rainy springs are ideal. In early spring, they tend to appear at lower elevations first and move up as temperatures rise.
It is also crucial to be able to identify true morel mushrooms to ensure safety. True morels have a distinctive honeycomb appearance with ridges and indentations across the surface of their elongated cap, and they are always hollow inside from the tip of the cap to the bottom of the stem. False morels, on the other hand, tend to grow around evergreens, are shaped like brains, and are reddish in colour. They contain a toxin called monomethylhydrazine (MMH) which can cause dizziness, headaches, stomach cramping, diarrhoea, vomiting, seizures, liver damage, and even death.
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Oyster mushrooms
There are several different types of oyster mushrooms to choose from, but the most common variety is the pearl oyster mushroom, which is commonly available and grows best in colder temperatures. The blue oyster mushroom is a subspecies of the common oyster and is one of the fastest-growing varieties, preferring cooler temperatures of 45-65 F (12-18 C).
If you're growing oyster mushrooms, you'll need to decide on a substrate—the material that provides a hydrated, nutrient-dense food source for the mushrooms to grow on. The most widely used substrate for oyster mushrooms is straw, but sawdust, cardboard, coffee grounds, and other agricultural byproducts can also be used. If you're just starting out, wood pellets are a good option because they come already pasteurized and only need to be rehydrated with water.
When growing oyster mushrooms, it's important to maintain high humidity, ideally in the 90% range. Oyster mushrooms will start to fruit and develop pinheads, and if the humidity is too low, their growth may stall. If grown in an enclosed space, they may grow long and leggy with undersized caps due to a buildup of carbon dioxide. To avoid this, simply mist the mushrooms and their growing environment with water a few times a day.
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Spring King mushrooms
Spring Kings are unique among boletes in that they often grow in clusters of three or more. They range in size depending on maturity and environmental factors. Young Spring Kings may be golf ball-sized, while fully mature specimens can have caps larger than a human head. To collect Spring Kings in the best condition, they should be found before they fully extend their large caps above the dirt. This can be done by looking for small bumps or "mushrumps" in the dirt and carefully digging to uncover the mushrooms.
Worms and bugs can be a problem for Spring Kings, especially once they have emerged from the dirt. To avoid insects, it is best to collect Spring Kings while they are still partially underground. If a Spring King is squishy, full of holes, and has a bad smell, it is too far gone and should be left alone.
When cut or broken, Spring Kings do not bruise blue like some other boletes. Both the flesh and pore surface remain the same colour when cut. Spring Kings are edible and can be preserved and cooked. However, it is important to remove the dirt from the mushrooms before storing or cooking them.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms bloom in spring, from as early as late April until about the middle of June.
Mushrooms need warmth, moisture, and food to thrive. They grow best when temperatures are consistently around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and in areas with a moderate amount of moisture.
Some of the most common edible mushrooms that bloom in spring include morels, oysters, and boletes. Morel mushrooms, in particular, are highly revered and celebrated in North America.
