Mushrooms after rain
For the growth and development of fungi, the right conditions are needed. Mushrooms grow actively after rain, so precipitation is one of the key conditions for their appearance. In order to choose the right time for harvesting, it is important to consider some points.
Mushrooms after rain
Conditions for the growth of mushrooms
Fungi reproduce by spores that form in the tubular or lamellar layer of the hymenophore located on the underside of the cap. For the active development of these organisms, an ideal combination of all conditions is necessary. In deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests, growth conditions are almost the same.
Conditions for growth:
- Temperature: it should not exceed + 25 ... + 30 ° С, the minimum indicator should not fall below + 5 ° С. The ideal (comfortable) temperature for the development of fruiting bodies is + 10 ... + 20 ° С. Scattered sunlight also promotes mycelium growth.
- Humidity of air and soil: thanks to it, the mycelium is saturated with water and "starts" the ripening program of fruit bodies. Insufficient moisture inhibits the normal growth of fungi. Over-watering causes rapid aging and decay.
- The presence of a nutrient substrate of natural adventures: usually fallen leaves and needles, rotten wood, humus in the soil - helps to saturate the mycelium with the necessary amount of nutrients. Their number should be optimal.
- The presence of parasitic organisms on the mycelium: leads to a complication of the process of maturation of the mushroom body. Sometimes parasites are able to destroy the entire mycelium or bring it to a state where it is unable to reproduce fruits. If the fungus grows with a parasite inside, the whole process of its maturation is disrupted, which leads to rapid deterioration of the stem and cap and unusability.
Irina Selyutina (Biologist):
The humidity of the air for the normal development of the fruiting bodies of the mushrooms should be 70% and it should correspond to the humidity of the soil. If, after heavy rains, a prolonged dry period is established, then due to the fact that the soil becomes dry, and the air, on the contrary, becomes waterlogged, the mushrooms will grow slowly.
Mushrooms usually gain weight within 10 days - evenly day and night. Even an experienced mushroom picker can find it difficult to tell whether or not it is time to pick mushrooms after the rain. Their growth is significantly accelerated after a warm, quiet rain or the appearance of fogs.
Growth of mushrooms after precipitation
Water entering the ground encourages the mycelium to grow actively. This process takes from ten hours to 3-5 days. Further, the fruit body itself grows - a leg and a cap. The end of the life cycle occurs in 2 weeks from the moment when the top of the cap appears on the surface.
Mushrooms grow quickly after rain, unless there has been a long period of drought before.
Water awakens mycelium
Under the influence of high temperatures for some time, the mycelium is not able to saturate with the required amount of moisture. And the ability of the earth to absorb water in dry times is significantly deteriorated.This is especially true for plots of land where the soil is open to direct sunlight for a long time.
Not every rain can cause mushroom growth.
Short-term precipitation and heavy rainfall seldom contribute to the active growth of fruit bodies. Fungi appear after a rain of medium duration, when water gradually, over a period of time, enters the soil, is able to accumulate and moisten several layers of soil. The appearance of autumn fogs contributes to the development of mycelium, and in spring and summer the same role is successfully performed by falling dew.
Growth of different types of mushrooms
Mushrooms grow after rain in the warm season only during a certain period. For some species, precipitation is not a reason for the active development of the fruiting body.
The growth rate of the fetus after precipitation is divided into groups:
- Mushrooms with a high growth rate: they are characterized by a speed of 9-14 mm in height during the day. Their appearance on the surface is observed by 12-18 hours after rain or 2-3 days. These include boletus, boletus, boletus - tubular; russula, champignons, mushrooms - lamellar. In these representatives of the mushroom world, the mycelium is located close to the surface of the earth, without dropping below 10-15 cm, which creates good conditions for rapid heating and moistening of the mycelium filaments.
- Slow growing mushrooms: reach 1.5-3 mm in height within 24 hours. The density of the mushroom body of these species does not allow them to gain weight at a rapid pace. Therefore, they appear above the soil surface for 5-7 days, and they need 7-12 days to acquire a "presentation". Bright representatives are chanterelles, milk mushrooms, porcini mushrooms, morels, lines.
You can collect the gifts of the forest in large quantities a few days after the rain.
Irina Selyutina (Biologist):
It is important to know that when the necessary weather conditions occur, mushrooms will not appear as if by magic. For their formation, the full development of the mycelium is necessary, therefore, the appearance of fruiting bodies can be on various days of the long-awaited "mushroom period". The process of reproduction of mushrooms goes on regardless of the desire of a person, we cannot accelerate it. Therefore, do not forget that it is better to walk through the forest in search of mushrooms a few days after the "mushroom rain".
With the rapid evaporation of rain moisture or its insufficient amount, some specimens stop growing, acquiring an unattractive appearance. But with the resumption of favorable conditions, they continue to grow, the rate of their development depends on maintaining moisture and a comfortable temperature. The leg grows first, and then the hat. The mushroom grows not only in height but also in width. The leg and cap continue to increase in size after the height has already come to an end. The cap continues to grow even after the stem ripens. Aging of the mushroom body and saturation with toxins occurs within 12-15 days after the start of growth, it is better not to harvest such a crop.
Conclusion
Collecting mushrooms after rain allows you to get beautiful and useful gifts of the forest. You need to know the correct time to collect after rainfall. If you check every day for possible mushroom spots, then the mushroom picker will get the expected result.
