How morels grow is an often asked question and the answer is tricky. The source of the spores is a mystery as they may come from many different places. Spores grow after being transplanted through an airborne method or through an underground root system. Even seasoned hunters cannot determine the exact source of the spore. Often, when finding a hot spot for the tasty mushrooms, morel experts attribute it to the decomposing tree or its root system they are found on. One thing is for sure; when that tree is gone so too go the morels.
Unlike other mushrooms that have gills under their caps, the morel spores drop from the crevices in the cap. The spores are microscopic and once they have dropped, the mycelium begins to grow under the ground in the first inch of dirt that is on top of wood chips or some type of decomposing wood. The tiny spore needs high humidity and the proper temperature to thrive. Morels tend to like colder temperatures than you might expect. They grow well anywhere from 50-75 degrees as is evidenced by their appearance in mid spring. After the mycelium has colonized 100% of the decomposing wood it's growing on or in, it develops what is called the fruit body of the fungus. The morel mushroom will grow in about 3-10 days. The time it takes for the morel to mature depends on the amount of shade, temperature, moisture and wood source.
The mystique around morel mushrooms seems to grow with each successive generation. And it is well founded. Morels are more than delicious; they are probably the most tasty mushroom you will ever eat and well worth the effort. The one pictured in this article was a gift to me from a dear friend who shall remain anonymous, lest the secret of her morel hotspot be found by others. When I came home from work a few days ago, there was a little brown lunch bag with a handwritten birthday note on the outside. Much to my surprise when I opened this humble wrapping, I found a beautiful selection of recently picked morels. What a wonderful gift. We stoked up the grill and I gently soaked the morels, then sliced them in half, placed them in a shallow grill pan. I drizzled them with butter, freshly chopped garlic and Spike seasoning. Put the pan on the grill and closed the cover letting the morels cook for about 10 minutes. I served them with a crusty sourdough and triple cream Brie. Morels simply cannot be beat when you consider the fun of the hunt coupled with their spectacular flavor. Good Luck and Happy Morel Hunting!
For more information on safe mushroom picking, please check out the following pages. Each of these sites gives a great deal of information about poisonous mushrooms including pictures.
HYPERLINK "http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/outdoor-recreation/how/mushrooms/safe-..." http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/outdoor-recreation/how/mushrooms/safe-...
HYPERLINK "http://mushroomexpert.com/sitemap2.html#morels" http://mushroomexpert.com/sitemap2.html#morels
HYPERLINK "http://www.michiganmorels.com/" http://www.michiganmorels.com/
HYPERLINK "http://thegreatmorel.com/" http://thegreatmorel.com/
Unlike other mushrooms that have gills under their caps, the morel spores drop from the crevices in the cap. The spores are microscopic and once they have dropped, the mycelium begins to grow under the ground in the first inch of dirt that is on top of wood chips or some type of decomposing wood. The tiny spore needs high humidity and the proper temperature to thrive. Morels tend to like colder temperatures than you might expect. They grow well anywhere from 50-75 degrees as is evidenced by their appearance in mid spring. After the mycelium has colonized 100% of the decomposing wood it's growing on or in, it develops what is called the fruit body of the fungus. The morel mushroom will grow in about 3-10 days. The time it takes for the morel to mature depends on the amount of shade, temperature, moisture and wood source.
The mystique around morel mushrooms seems to grow with each successive generation. And it is well founded. Morels are more than delicious; they are probably the most tasty mushroom you will ever eat and well worth the effort. The one pictured in this article was a gift to me from a dear friend who shall remain anonymous, lest the secret of her morel hotspot be found by others. When I came home from work a few days ago, there was a little brown lunch bag with a handwritten birthday note on the outside. Much to my surprise when I opened this humble wrapping, I found a beautiful selection of recently picked morels. What a wonderful gift. We stoked up the grill and I gently soaked the morels, then sliced them in half, placed them in a shallow grill pan. I drizzled them with butter, freshly chopped garlic and Spike seasoning. Put the pan on the grill and closed the cover letting the morels cook for about 10 minutes. I served them with a crusty sourdough and triple cream Brie. Morels simply cannot be beat when you consider the fun of the hunt coupled with their spectacular flavor. Good Luck and Happy Morel Hunting!
For more information on safe mushroom picking, please check out the following pages. Each of these sites gives a great deal of information about poisonous mushrooms including pictures.
HYPERLINK "http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/outdoor-recreation/how/mushrooms/safe-..." http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/outdoor-recreation/how/mushrooms/safe-...
HYPERLINK "http://mushroomexpert.com/sitemap2.html#morels" http://mushroomexpert.com/sitemap2.html#morels
HYPERLINK "http://www.michiganmorels.com/" http://www.michiganmorels.com/
HYPERLINK "http://thegreatmorel.com/" http://thegreatmorel.com/
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