Any mushroom gatherers

Does anyone gather morel mushrooms? I would like to, but don’t know much about it. Years ago I had some elm trees removed in my yard, a year or two after that a bunch of what I thought were morels popped up. I picked them and tried to find somebody local to confirm that’s what they were. No luck, and they were huge! Had to throw them out. I think it was the next year a local guy asked if I ever had any in my yard because it looks like a good place for em.
He also said that “if you ever eat some, you’ll start looking for them”
So where do I look? I’m guessing dampish areas where hardwoods grow with rich soil and leaf decay. Not to many spots like that around me because mostly sandy soils but I know a couple spots to check.
Any tips or advice appreciated

 

Those ones you had that couldn't confirm if they were out not, did you cut any in half? If they were hollow, they were probably true morels, not the false morels that you don't want to eat.

From my woods last May. I have large hands, this was a monster. I find the big blonds in the woods, and smaller Grey's in the field on my wood lot.





I also found a decent amount in my front yard, picking up sticks before mowing the lawn.

Here's from the front yard, growing from the dying ash tree. These are smaller grey morels, but they taste the same.

Morels taste awesome. My wife makes an awesome morel carmelized onion, roasted garlic and asparagus, sausage, and parm /asiago or fontina cheese pizza on her home made dough. It's also great in a crab and morel risotto. I can dig up a picture of the pizza if you want.

 

That’s ok probably just make me hungry and jealous

 

Here's some we found last year. Have not heard about this season yet. I always like to be in the woods on May 1. I'm hoping for a big rain or snow in the next week. Not too many elms around here anymore. I like to look for Ash, Sycamore and Tulip trees now. When the Mayapples come out its time. Good luck.

 

People say morels grow around this kind of tree.....in this kind of soil.....on hill sides....on flat land.....etc. I think that's a bunch of BS. They grow where they want to grow and you just have to cover enough ground to find out where they decide to pop up. I've had a couple honey holes that would produce 3-5lbs a year, but over time they just up and vanish and you have to find the next ones. Several times I have found a bunch of them growing on a creek bank....the soil was so sandy I had to throw them away because the sand was embedded in the mushroom flesh. I stopped looking there, but I'm sure I'd find more if I kept looking.

I do find that I've had better luck finding them around trees that are almost but not quite dead. Doesn't really matter what kind. Must be something about the root system of the tree when it is struggling to live that mushrooms like.

 

I've been reading a lot of articles lately about where to look. I'm going to poke around out back here in the next couple of weeks and see what appears. Lilacs haven't opened up yet. We have had good rain though.

 

I've found the may apples need to be up for a few days, not just sprouting otherwise it's a waste of time looking for morels.

 

No Lilacs or Asparagus = zero morels here. Its been to cold. 27F last night. I sure am looking forward to doing some hunting soon.

 

I've never tried morels. I do see what looks like them, popping up in my yard. Maybe this year, if they show.

Anyone have any ideas about how to propagate them? As in, "when they look like this... break them up and scatter". If that works at all.

 

One of the last great mysteries left is how to produce Morels. It's been tried many ways without success. Unfortunately.



If there are no shrooms around KC it will be some time before I see them.

 

thegreatmorel.com will give you the latest map showing where they are currently being found. I should be seeing them soon. I have them on my place

 

No elm or poplar around our property. Ash, oak, maple, and black birch. I guess they grow where they want to.

 

My 10 year old son just showed up with 52 yellows and grays.

 

They come in different colors?

Happy to put my ignorance about them on display.

 

I'm not sure if this depends on geography or not, but around here you get blacks, grays, and yellows.

Blacks are the first to come up.....followed by grays....followed by yellows. Depending on the year they might have no overlap in time....or almost come all at once.