PHOTO OF THE WEEK, Morels

Jack Schmidling said:

The morels are up. Well actually, barely plural as we have only found
two so far.

In the 12 years we have lived here, we have found morels only twice; two
years ago and this year.

Seems to me leaving one or two to spore might increase your porduction
next year...

-L.

Jack Schmidling said:

The morels are up. Well actually, barely plural as we have only found
two so far.

In the 12 years we have lived here, we have found morels only twice; two
years ago and this year.

Seems to me leaving one or two to spore might increase your production
next year...

-L.

Here's a hint. Look at where you found the morels: in a gravel bed. I'm
betting recent gravel and probably recent soil disturbance.

M. esculenta is almost never found in Oregon.

However, the other 12 species or so which are found here reliably fruit
year after year.

A single morel can produce over 1,000,000 spores. A single Calvatia
gigantea may produce 3,000,000,000 spores.

I suspect most fungi can take care of themselves. But if you are
concerned, you might want to create more habitat for them: fresh
chipped green Douglas-fir branches work for me in growing morels. But
in a pinch I've used "Beauty Bark" or bark mulch.

I kind of suspect that M. esculenta may be at least partially
mycorrhizal. That means you might have to have the right trees nearby.

Daniel B. Wheeler
www.oregonwhitetruffles.com

Here's a hint. Look at where you found the morels: in a gravel bed. I'm
betting recent gravel and probably recent soil disturbance.

M. esculenta is almost never found in Oregon.

However, the other 12 species or so which are found here reliably fruit
year after year.

A single morel can produce over 1,000,000 spores. A single Calvatia
gigantea may produce 3,000,000,000 spores.

I suspect most fungi can take care of themselves. But if you are
concerned, you might want to create more habitat for them: fresh
chipped green Douglas-fir branches work for me in growing morels. But
in a pinch I've used "Beauty Bark" or bark mulch.

I kind of suspect that M. esculenta may be at least partially
mycorrhizal. That means you might have to have the right trees nearby.

Daniel B. Wheeler
www.oregonwhitetruffles.com