When and where are the waves collected: how long do they grow, collection rules

Volnushki grow in forests throughout Our Country. They can be found in large groups next to birches. Mushroom pickers collect their pink and white varieties. They are classified as conditionally edible mushrooms and are widely used for pickling and pickling.

When and how do waves grow

Volnushki belong to the Mlechnikov genus and the Syroezhkov family. This variety in Our Country is classified as conditionally edible. It is eaten after pre-treatment. Before cooking, mushrooms must be boiled or soaked in water. In some countries, these mushrooms are classified as poisonous.

Volnushki appear quite late, and you can collect them before the first frost. The first peak of the appearance of these mushrooms falls on the second half of July. Since the end of August, there has been a second surge in growth. Their full fruiting occurs in September. In sunny and warm weather, characteristic of the “Indian summer”, representatives of this species are found even in October.

Representatives of the Syroezhkov family grow in groups of 5 – 8 pieces. You can also meet entire families of several dozen copies. They bear fruit well even in lean years for mushrooms.

Photo of fungus mushrooms during different stages of growth.

How many days does the wave grow

Wave mushrooms grow relatively quickly. Three factors have a decisive influence on the growth rate of their fruiting body:

1. The optimum air humidity for mushrooms in the surface layer should be at least 50 – 60%.
2. The air temperature required for the active development of the fruiting body is 18 – 27 0С. If it exceeds 30 – 35 0C, then its culture is oppressed.
3. Wavelets need good lighting.

If sunny but not hot weather sets in after rain, the wave in the forest grows to medium size in a short time (3-4 days). Her hat reaches 4 – 6 cm in diameter, and in some specimens – 15 cm.

Where do mushrooms grow

Volnushki grow throughout the Federation. According to the reviews of mushroom pickers, there are especially a lot of them:

• in the central part of Our Country;
• in the north of the Central region;
• in the forests of Yakutia and Transbaikalia;
• in the Kaliningrad region;
• in forests near lakes along the Chelyabinsk tract (Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions).

In what forests do mushrooms grow mushrooms

These fungi form a symbiosis mainly with birch. Waves grow in those forests where these trees are found:

• birch groves and birch forests;
• deciduous forests with birch populations;
• light mixed coniferous-birch forests with hummocky soil covered with grass;
• former collective farm fields overgrown with young birch trees.

In mixed forests, these mushrooms are found next to mushrooms and aspen mushrooms. Pink waves can be found in the northern part under old birches. They are still found in linden forests and brooms. White waves are light-loving, they are often found under young birches at the entrance to a forest plantation, where there are no dense thickets. They can also grow in city parks and squares.

What waves can be collected

You can collect two types of waves: pink and white. According to nutritional value, they belong to the second category of mushrooms. Their young fruiting bodies have a fairly dense pulp, retain their shape well after harvesting and withstand transportation. The most valued are the so-called “curls” – waves, the diameter of the cap of which is not more than 3 – 4 cm.

Often these fruiting bodies can be confused with mushrooms and pigs. But mushrooms are larger, they always have smooth orange hats with less clear circles, their juice is carrot-colored, the cut is oxidized and acquires a bluish tint.

Pigs have a different, less convex, shape of hats, there are no villi. Fruiting bodies are painted in brown or yellow.

White waves

The popular name for the white wave is whitefish. The mushroom is distinguished by the white color of the fruiting body. By external signs, it has some similarities with the pink variety, but is characterized by smaller sizes:

1. The hat with a diameter of no larger than 10 – 12 cm has a white-yellow color and seems dirty. Its shade, depending on the place of growth, may vary slightly: be lighter or darker. The convex surface is covered with villi forming concentric zones. Because of the pale or yellowish hairs, the circles on the cap are not as distinct as in the pink variety. In the center of the cap is a rounded yellow indentation. With age, it becomes funnel-shaped.
2. Pulp. Dense white pulp, when broken and pressed, releases a milky liquid with a faint smell of geranium. The juice does not oxidize in air and does not change color. In damp weather, the flesh may become mucilaginous.
3. Records. The plates of the whitefish are adherent, narrow and descending. They are often located and painted in the same tone as the hat – whitish or fawn.
4. Leg. The white leg is 3-4 cm high and has the shape of a cylinder. In dense grass, it can grow up to 8 cm. In a young mushroom, it is dense, but becomes brittle with age. Usually the surface of the leg is smooth, but may be with small villi.
5. Spore powder whitish, with yellowness.

The inedible double of the whitefish is the sticky lactic. He has a greyish-green cap with darker markings. The stalk is lighter than the cap and sticky to the touch. The flesh is white and odorless, but has a very pungent taste. The juice at the break oxidizes, acquiring a green color.

pink waves

The synonymous names of this fungus are volzhanka, voluha, rubella, broth, krasulya, volvyanitsa.

Volnukha has a recognizable appearance:

1. The diameter of the cap of such a mushroom is from 5 to 10 cm. There are large specimens up to 15 cm in size. Dark concentric zones are clearly visible on the pinkish-red surface, resembling circles on the water. They are formed by coarse villi. With age, the circles lose clarity. The shape of the cap of a young mushroom is convex. Gradually, it becomes flat, with a slight indentation in the center and lowered edges.
2. Pulp. The fruit body of the Volzhanka has a white or milky pulp. It is brittle, loose, has a slight resinous aroma, and is rarely damaged by worms. At the break, cloudy light juice with a bitter aftertaste is released. When pickled, the flesh becomes light gray.
   Important! If processed incorrectly or for a short time, the juice of the wave can cause indigestion.
3. Records. The young fungus has pink, thin, frequent, adherent plates. Over time, they turn yellow or acquire a shade of ocher and stretch to the base of the stem in the form of a cone.
4. Leg. The pale pink stem of the fruiting body is cylindrical in shape. In young mushrooms, it is solid, then it becomes hollow inside. The size of the legs is medium: its length is 3-6 cm, thickness is about 2 cm.
5. Spore powder of white or cream color.

In the photo you can see how pink waves grow:

Inexperienced mushroom pickers can confuse volnukha with prickly lactic. This mushroom is considered inedible. His hat does not have a pubescent edge. It may have small red scales on it. The pulp is colored white or dark yellow, it is odorless, with a very pungent taste. The color of the pulp and juice on the cut varies from white to green, sometimes black-green.

Rules for collecting waves

Volnukhi and whites are harvested by picking or cutting. The collection method does not affect the condition of the mycelium. You should not stir up the forest floor strongly in search of a wave. So you can break the mycelium and damage the embryos of the fruiting bodies. You can not destroy mushrooms that are not the subject of collection. They perform an important ecological function in the forest.

The place of cutting or breaking of mushrooms is inspected. If there are wormholes, the fruiting body is cut and its affected areas are removed. It is convenient to put the collected waves in wicker baskets or lubyanki, the bottom of which is covered with paper. They, without compacting, are laid with plates down so that sand does not fill between the folds.

The video review details the features of collecting waves.

Storage Rules

Mushroom volnushka is a perishable product, so you should follow certain rules for its storage:

1. Fruit bodies are immediately cleaned of forest debris, which can provoke decay.
2. Wet waves collected in the rain are processed immediately after coming from the forest.
3. Freshly picked mushrooms can be stored at room temperature for no more than 6 hours.
4. If it is not possible to immediately clean the mushrooms, they are laid out in a cool place without washing so that they do not touch each other. In this way, the shelf life can be increased to 15 – 18 hours.
5. In the refrigerator, cleaned whites and volukhi are stored for no more than 3 days.

Conclusion

Volnushki grow in families in birch, deciduous and mixed coniferous-birch forests. Pink waves should be looked for on the northern edges under old birches. White – can be found under a young birch in non-thickened parts of plantings. It is best to go in search of these mushrooms on the 3rd – 4th day after the rain. The rules for collecting and storing fresh waves are standard, as for all types of mushrooms.