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Many mushroom pickers undeservedly deprive forest oyster mushrooms of their attention. Being unsure of how these mushrooms look in the forest, and also not being able to distinguish edible fruits from inedible ones, fans of the “silent hunt” often simply pass by. Sometimes mushroom pickers simply do not know where to look for them, and also at what time of the year oyster mushrooms are harvested. And sometimes they think that oyster mushrooms grow on the ground, so they always look under their feet, instead of looking at the trees.
How to collect oyster mushrooms in the forest and where they grow
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It is worth noting that oyster mushroom is very much appreciated by knowledgeable people, especially those who follow a diet. This mushroom is considered the lowest calorie of all fruiting bodies, but this does not prevent it from being very useful. It contains a lot of substances and trace elements necessary for the human body: protein, amino acids, phosphorus, ascorbic acid, iron, calcium, etc.
When novice mushroom pickers learn more about oyster mushrooms: how to collect them in the forest, where they grow and what useful properties they have, then these mushrooms immediately become favorites.
I must say that the collection of oyster mushrooms takes place all year round, so you can “hunt” for them in the winter. Now with confidence you can go into the forest and look not only under your feet in search of mushrooms, but also carefully examine the trees. Oyster mushrooms stick to tree trunks and grow in large colonies. Therefore, these mushrooms are collected very quickly in whole baskets.
When the time comes for picking oyster mushrooms, each mushroom picker must “arm himself” with certain information. In particular, he needs to know that these fruiting bodies are located in whole families on the trunks of weakened trees, stumps, snags. Oyster mushrooms are predatory fungi that can paralyze and then digest primary cavity worms. It is for this reason that these mushrooms are never wormy.
While picking oyster mushrooms in the forest, no one, even a novice mushroom picker, can make a mistake in these fruiting bodies. The first rule: they grow on trees, on fallen and rotten stumps. Second: about 40 mushrooms make up a multi-tiered fan-shaped structure, as if it is hanging down, and oyster mushroom smells like anise. The legs of these mushrooms are short and slightly curved. Hats are fleshy, dark gray with wavy edges. Older mushrooms have a gray-violet cap color. Old oyster mushrooms have caps with a yellowish tint and rare plates under them.
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The best time to pick oyster mushrooms in the forest
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Oyster mushrooms are so viable and hardy that they bear fruit all year round. Therefore, the time for collecting oyster mushrooms in the forest is unlimited. Mushroom pickers happily collect them from early spring to the end of the year. However, if the winter turned out to be warm, then the harvest can be harvested even in January. Although traditionally, summer and autumn are considered the best time to collect oyster mushrooms in the forest – when it is warm, sunny and rainy.
Experienced mushroom pickers advise their novice colleagues to pick mushrooms whose cap diameter does not exceed 10 cm. Such mushrooms are very tender and are great for cooking any dish. In addition, it is better not to take the legs of old mushrooms, because they are not tasty and tough. It turns out that oyster mushrooms do not have poisonous counterparts. Therefore, if you see a colony of mushrooms on a tree or stump, take it without hesitation.
I would like to say that in nature oyster mushrooms begin their fruiting from March to November. But as mentioned above, even in December you can safely go for mushrooms. You need to cut oyster mushrooms all at once, despite the fact that mushrooms of different stages of development are in the splice. Do not leave the little ones, as they will die on the cut splice without their older relatives. Moreover, at the base, all oyster mushrooms are connected into one whole.
The collection of oyster mushrooms in Our Country takes place from September to December, since in this region the most common species (oyster mushroom) prefers low temperatures. Therefore, if cool weather lasts for a long time in summer, feel free to go to the forest to harvest.
Since this type of fungus is cold-resistant, in different regions the collection of oyster mushrooms can vary from the beginning of spring to the middle of winter, that is, almost the whole year. Therefore, there is nothing strange if the winter forest pleases mushroom pickers with delicious mushrooms. The only sad thing is that there are very few such species as forest oyster mushrooms.
In winter, you can combine the useful and the pleasant: skiing through the winter forest and searching for delicacies. By the way, picking mushrooms in winter is much easier than in summer or autumn. In a leafless forest, oyster mushrooms can be seen from afar, especially since they grow in large colonies.
To taste, oyster mushrooms often resemble another mushroom – champignon. Of the 7 types of edible oyster mushrooms, 5 types are rich in trace elements and vitamins necessary for the human body. Those who once tried forest oyster mushrooms will always look for them in the forest.