Emily Johnson
Knowing when to pick B+ mushrooms is crucial for maximising future growth and getting the most out of your crop. The best time to harvest is when the veil—the thin membrane on the underside of the mushroom cap that keeps the spores in—just starts to tear. Harvesting too late results in a lower concentration of psilocybin/psilocin per unit mass. However, harvesting too early may mean that you don't get the most out of a single mushroom. Therefore, it is always better to harvest too early than too late.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Optimal time to harvest | When the veil is still light-coloured; right before the veil tears |
| How to identify the veil | A thin membrane on the underside of the cap that covers the gills |
| Colour of the veil | Usually grey-white; darkens before tearing |
| What happens after the veil tears | The mushroom will start to die; it will darken, wilt and eventually break |
| How to pick | Rotate the mushroom and gently pull it up |
| Spore prints | Harvest when the cap has opened and starts to flatten |
| Potency | Harvest before the spores are released as the potency will reduce |
| Size | Harvest when the mushroom reaches full size or stops growing |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Harvesting for spore prints
The best time to harvest B+ mushrooms for spore prints is right before the veil breaks or right after. The veil is the thin membrane on the underside of the mushroom cap that keeps the spores in the mushroom. When the mushroom is mature, this veil tears and the spores are released. If you're growing mushrooms indoors, you'll want to harvest them before the veil tears to prevent the spores from getting released onto the mycelium cake, which will produce fewer mushrooms in the subsequent flushes.
To make a spore print, you'll need a fresh mushroom, a bowl or cup, water, and a piece of paper, wax paper, or aluminium foil. Here are the steps:
- Remove the stem from the mushroom, being careful not to damage the gills if they are covered by the cap.
- Place the cap gill-side down onto the paper, wax paper, or aluminium foil.
- Put a drop of water on the cap to help release the spores.
- Cover the cap with a bowl or cup to lock in moisture and prevent the spores from blowing away. Make sure the bowl or cup doesn't press on the top of the mushroom as this might damage it.
- Leave the mushroom alone for 2-24 hours while it releases spores. The longer you leave it out, the more spores it will release.
- After a few hours, lift the mushroom to reveal your spore print.
If you want to create spore art, you can experiment with leaving multiple mushrooms out for different lengths of time to create a mosaic of different designs. You can also try placing the mushroom cap on card stock or coloured paper without covering it and letting the spores "float" down onto the paper in patterns resulting from air currents in the room.
To study the spores with a microscope, scrape off some of the spores from your spore print using a needle or scalpel and place them on a microscope slide. Add a drop of water and cover with a cover slip.
To preserve your spore print, lightly spray it with an artist spray or hair spray. Hold the spray at least 12-15 inches (30-38 cm) above the print to avoid blasting the spores off the paper.
Mushrooms: Human-like Beings or Not?
You may want to see also
Harvesting for consumption
Harvesting B+ mushrooms for consumption requires careful observation of the veil, the thin membrane on the underside of the mushroom cap that keeps the spores in the mushroom. The optimal time to harvest is just before the veil tears, as this is when the mushroom is at its most potent. Once the veil breaks, the mushroom will continue to grow but will not gain in potency by weight. If you wait too long, the mushroom will release its spores, and the potency will reduce.
When the mushroom is mature, the veil will tear, and the spores will be released, ready to grow the next generation of mushrooms. This process is undesirable when growing mushrooms indoors, as the spores will cover the mycelium cake, reducing the number of mushrooms in subsequent flushes. Therefore, it is crucial to harvest B+ mushrooms before the veil breaks to maximize future flushes and get the most out of your crop.
The veil is located on the underside of the cap and covers the gills. On a juvenile mushroom, the veil is fleshy and light-coloured, usually grey-white. As the mushroom matures, the veil will darken and begin to sag before tearing. Once the veil tears, it will detach from the underside of the cap, revealing a concave cavity and gills. Therefore, it is important to harvest the mushrooms before the veil darkens to ensure optimal potency.
In addition to observing the veil, you can also monitor the size and shape of the mushroom cap. Harvest the mushrooms when they reach full size or stop growing. Pick them when the caps are still slightly curled down, just before they start to flatten and turn upwards. This is the optimal time for consumption, as the mushrooms are at their most potent, and you can avoid the release of spores.
It is generally recommended to harvest all the mushrooms at once rather than individually, as they may not all grow and mature at the same rate. Use your judgement to determine the optimal time to harvest the entire crop based on your experience and observations. By following these guidelines, you can ensure you harvest B+ mushrooms at the right time for consumption, maximizing their potency and flavour.
Discovering Matsutake Mushrooms: Identification Techniques
You may want to see also
Observing the veil
The veil is a thin membrane located on the underside of the mushroom cap, which covers the gills and keeps the spores inside the mushroom. When the mushroom is mature, the veil tears, and the spores are released, allowing the mushroom to reproduce and grow the next generation of mushrooms.
To ensure you get the most out of your crop, it is important to carefully observe the veil of each mushroom to know when to pick them. The general rule is that it is better to harvest too soon than too late. While you may not get the most out of a single mushroom if you harvest early, you avoid the risk of ruining your entire crop. Therefore, it is always best to play it safe and err on the side of caution.
On a juvenile mushroom, the veil is fleshy and light-coloured, usually grey-white. When the time comes for the veil to tear, it often darkens and begins to sag. Once the veil tears, it will detach from the underside of the cap, revealing a concave cavity and gills. At first, only one side may tear, but the rest will soon follow. The veil will turn black, followed by the cap and the whole mushroom. After this point, the mushroom will start to die, darken, and eventually break.
Therefore, it is important to harvest the mushrooms just before the veil tears or right after. If you wait too long, the mushroom will release its spores, and its potency will reduce. However, if you harvest too early, the mushroom may not have reached its full potency. It is a delicate balance, and careful observation of the veil is key to getting the timing right.
How Heat Impacts the Potency of Magic Mushrooms
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Optimal harvesting time
The optimal harvesting time for B+ mushrooms is when the veil under the cap breaks. The veil is a thin membrane that extends from the stipe surface to the cap edge and covers the gills of the mushroom. When the mushroom is mature, the veil tears and the spores are released, which will grow the next generation of mushrooms. However, if you are growing mushrooms indoors, this process is undesirable as it will produce fewer mushrooms in the subsequent flushes. Therefore, it is recommended to harvest the mushrooms before the veil breaks.
The veil is located on the underside of the cap and is usually grey-white in juvenile mushrooms. As the mushroom matures, the veil darkens and begins to sag. Once the veil tears, it will turn black and detach from the underside of the cap, revealing the gills. At this point, the mushroom will start to die and will soon break. Therefore, it is crucial to harvest the mushrooms just before the veil tears or right after.
Some sources suggest that the best time to harvest B+ mushrooms is when the veil on the fruit bodies just starts to stretch. This is because, once spore production starts, psilocybin/psilocin production slows or stops, leading to a decrease in potency. Additionally, it is generally recommended to harvest all the mushrooms at once rather than one at a time as the veils break. This is because they do not all grow and mature at the same rate, and you will need to decide based on experience when the optimal time to harvest all of them is.
If you are harvesting mushrooms for spore prints, you should wait until the cap has opened and started to flatten and turn upwards, releasing spores. However, if you are harvesting mushrooms for consumption, it is best to do so before the cap opens to avoid a decrease in potency.
Mushrooms: FDA Approved or Not?
You may want to see also
How to pick mushrooms
Picking mushrooms is an increasingly popular activity, but it requires preparation and knowledge. The ideal time to pick mushrooms is autumn, as many different types of mushrooms appear during this season. However, it can be done all year round, preferably on a sunny day, 2–3 days after rainfall.
When picking mushrooms, it is crucial to be able to identify the different types, as some may be toxic or inedible. It is recommended to take a guide or use an app to help identify mushrooms. It is also advised to go with someone who has experience and knows the area.
To harvest mushrooms, it is important to observe the veil, a thin membrane on the underside of the mushroom cap that keeps the spores in. When the mushroom is mature, the veil tears, and the spores are released, ready to grow the next generation of mushrooms. It is best to pick the mushrooms just before the veil tears or right after. The veil will turn black, followed by the cap, and the mushroom will start to die. Therefore, it is crucial to harvest before this stage.
There are two main methods for picking mushrooms: cutting or twisting and pulling. The cutting method involves cutting off the fruit bodies where they join the ground or their growing surface. This prevents damage to the delicate mycelium below. However, some argue that twisting and pulling the mushroom from the mycelium is better as it prevents the residual stump from rotting and "infecting" the mycelium. Ultimately, practical experience and studies suggest that the picking method makes little difference to the fungus.
When picking wild mushrooms, it is important to follow certain rules to ensure sustainability. For example, avoiding picking small mushrooms with a cap diameter of less than 2 cm. Additionally, it is crucial to avoid picking mushrooms from the side of the road or polluted places, as mushrooms absorb pollutants from the soil. Instead, opt for forests, which offer a greater variety of types. Always ensure you have permission to forage in a forest, as you may need the owner's consent.
Mushrooms in Carbonara: A Match Made in Heaven?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Pick B+ mushrooms when the veil under the cap breaks. This is when they are at their most potent.
The veil is a thin membrane that extends from the stipe surface to the cap edge. It covers the gills and keeps the spores in the mushroom.
If you pick the mushrooms too late, the concentration of psilocybin/psilocin per unit mass will drop. The mushrooms will also release spores, which will cover the other mushrooms and the substrate underneath them.
Rotate the mushroom a full turn and gently pull it up, taking care not to disturb neighbouring mushrooms. Avoid cutting the stem, as leaving it in the growing medium can lead to rotting.
Fall is an excellent time to start growing mushrooms, as the cooler temperatures lend themselves to this rewarding project.
