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Chanterelles in the Moscow region love to collect not only avid mushroom pickers, but also lovers. These are mushrooms with amazing characteristics.
They do not react at all to rainy or dry weather, so they do not rot or dry out. It is also impossible to find wormy fruiting bodies, and it is very convenient to collect or transport them. Chanterelles do not press down, do not break and do not deteriorate. The composition of the fungus contains chitinmannose – a strong anthelmintic substance. Therefore, the fruiting bodies are always fresh. However, do not press the harvested crop too hard, the caps may crumble a little. This will reduce the attractiveness of the appearance and quantity of the product. The view is very much appreciated by the hostesses for the opportunity to cook a whole list of delicious dishes, as well as preparations.
Do chanterelles grow in the suburbs
Before going for mushrooms, you need to find out where chanterelles grow in the Moscow region. They can be found both in coniferous forests and in mixed or birch forests. If there are similar plantings in the region, then the chance to find red and tasty mushrooms increases significantly. The Moscow region is rich in forests, so mushroom pickers here are a real expanse. Almost 40% of the territory is occupied by trees, there are different species, you can find chanterelles in almost any area. The harvested crop depends on weather conditions and the number of mushroom pickers who went hunting. There are also empty spaces. In any case, you need to look very carefully for mushrooms in the Moscow region. Chanterelles prefer the shade of trees, but during the wet season they feel great in clearings. Each year, the intensity of growth of fruiting bodies changes slightly, so the mushroom places may shift slightly.
Where do chanterelles grow in the Moscow region
An important question for mushroom pickers. You can answer it only with the help of the recommendations of experts and reviews of avid mushroom pickers. To help beginners, even a map of the Moscow region is drawn up indicating mushroom places. You can use similar recommendations, just do not collect fruiting bodies near the tracks. Main directions:
- Kursk. It includes the Kolkhoznoe and Hryvnia stations. The easiest way to get there is from the Moscow Kursk railway station. Quite a lot of chanterelles grow in the east of Hryvnia, so it will be possible to collect a good harvest.
- Yaroslavl. This is the direction richest in chanterelles, especially in the area of Pushkino station. There are a lot of them here, mushroom pickers never return without prey.
- Ryazan. Chanterelles are recommended to be collected near Chernaya station. Other places for picking mushrooms in 2022 are Bronnitsa stations, platform 63 km and Faustovo. It is worth going deep for 3-4 km from the railway track, how you can start searching for fruiting bodies.
- Gorky. The farthest direction from the capital. Mushroom pickers will be interested in the 61 km platform and the Fryazino station. At the first stop, chanterelles come across 2 km north or 5 km south of the station.
- Kazan. A direction very rich in mushroom places. It is enough to get to the stations Lukhovitsy, Chernaya, Platform 63 km and go 1,5-2 km from the railway into the forest to start mushroom hunting.
These recommendations are valid for 2022. The most successful solution is to collect chanterelles in the south of the Moscow region. The northern regions do not always indulge mushroom pickers with a good harvest.
When to collect chanterelles in the suburbs
Chanterelles are a summer mushroom. During a warm spring, the first specimens appear at the end of May, active growth is observed in July. May is poor in harvest, mushrooms grow weakly due to not quite suitable weather conditions. Therefore, July-August is considered the most successful time for picking mushrooms in the Moscow region.
The fruiting of the species ends in autumn – in October and even November. Factors that help determine a good time:
- Weather. The number of fruiting bodies increases after foggy or rainy but warm days. As soon as heavy rains have passed, after 3-4 days you can go for chanterelles. Mushrooms reach good sizes in 6-9 days.
- Times of Day. It is optimal for the Moscow region to pick mushrooms early in the morning. The absence of bright sunlight allows you to see a hat shiny with dew among pine needles or grass.
Despite the fact that chanterelles grow until mid-autumn, it is recommended to collect them in the summer. Autumn mushroom hunting intersects with the collection of other nutritious species, which are also highly valued by mushroom pickers.
How long is the season of chanterelles in the suburbs
There are two phases of fructification of chanterelles in the Moscow region. The first active phase occurs at the end of June or the beginning of July, and the second at the middle of August and until the beginning of October. The most successful time mushroom pickers consider July-August. It was during this period that other mushrooms are not so common in the Moscow region, so chanterelles help out. The main focus is on the middle and end of summer, and in autumn, chanterelles are already considered an additional bonus for mushroom pickers. At this time, more attention is paid to the collection of mushrooms, volnushki, saffron mushrooms, milk mushrooms.
Summer chanterelles differ from those collected in the Moscow region in autumn. They are much more beautiful, but autumn ones are more nutritious and fragrant. The most delicious are collected in September. It is this month that is considered the most successful for collecting chanterelles in the fall.
Rules for collecting chanterelle mushrooms in the Moscow region
Chanterelles differ from other mushrooms of the Moscow region in terms of collection. To group recommendations, you should be based on the advice of experienced mushroom pickers and specialists. It is necessary to collect chanterelles in the Moscow region in 2022, adhering to the following rules:
- Mushrooms are allowed to search only in the forest. On the side of roads, railroad tracks or highways, they will be toxic due to the absorption of harmful substances. It is advisable to move away from the capital at least 50 km to avoid exposure to industrial and exhaust gases, heavy metals
- Chanterelle mushroom does not need to be cut with a knife, leaving part of the leg in the ground. The species has a dense leg, so it does not crumble when twisted. But some mushroom pickers insist on the opposite. They believe that when twisting, you can break the chanterelle. This is especially true for inexperienced amateurs. In any case, you need to try both options and use the one that suits you best.
- Do not dig up the bedding where chanterelles were found. Thus, you can damage the mycelium located around. The hole formed after the fungus is unscrewed must be sprinkled with bedding or earth so that chanterelles still grow in this place.
- It is important to study the signs of a real and false chanterelle well, so as not to be mistaken. The real one has a concave, wavy at the edges and a hat that is smooth on top. The leg is darker, elastic, dense. The mushroom exudes a delicate fruity aroma. False ones have a brighter color closer to orange, their stem is hollow and thin. A hat with smooth edges and shaped like a circle. The smell is unpleasant.
- Despite the fact that the chanterelles do not crumple and do not break, it is better to collect them in a basket. Bags or buckets are not very good containers for mushrooms.
The rules are not complicated at all, even an inexperienced mushroom picker can follow them.
Tips from experienced mushroom pickers
Every mushroom picker has his own secrets. Some collect whole baskets of chanterelles, while others have only a couple of pieces as a result. But certain nuances help to accurately find delicious mushrooms in the Moscow region. Here’s what experienced craftsmen advise:
- Choose the right place to search. Chanterelles should be looked for in the old forest. If it is young, then you will not get a good harvest. The fungus loves pines with a small interspersed with birches. Especially if there is moss in this place. Here are the first three components of success – pines, birches, moss. As soon as a similar place appears, you can safely start searching.
- Observe silence, because it is not for nothing that mushroom picking is called “silent hunting”. Try to enjoy the sounds of the forest without making too much noise. No matter how strange it may look, but silence also contributes to a successful hunt, albeit a mushroom one.
- Look for chanterelles carefully. It is necessary not only to find the moss, but also to look under it. It is worth gently lifting the layer with a spatula to reveal a whole family under it. It is important not to injure the moss, otherwise the integrity of the mycelium is violated. After the chanterelles move into the basket, the moss must be put in place. This will preserve the moisture necessary for the development of the mycelium and red mushrooms will reappear in this place. It is possible to spot the place if there is a good landmark in the forest, and then return in the fall or next year.
- If at least one mushroom was found, be sure to inspect the space nearby. Chanterelles grow in families not only in the Moscow region. This type of mushroom pickers are called masters of disguise. When one member of the family is discovered, the rest are always somewhere nearby. You can safely count on a good “catch”. A single specimen is the result of the carelessness of mushroom pickers who have passed earlier. They just didn’t notice him.
In addition to these tips, everyone can tell their own. After all, everyone’s experience is different, as is observation.
How to find chanterelles:
Conclusion
Chanterelles in the Moscow region are a valuable species. In addition to amazing taste characteristics, high transportability and nutritional value, picking mushrooms is a very exciting activity. To enjoy this event and collect a whole basket, you just need to heed the advice of experienced mushroom pickers and try to follow them.