GROWING GOURMET - Anto2ni.it

412 GROWTH PARAMETERS
Figure 370. Two bags of sawdust spawn (Stamets strain Figure
M-11) were inoculated into a burnsite December 27th. location)
(Figure 371.) Morels appeared May 4th.
371. The patch was located in a tield (poor
where no Morels would grow naturally. A
shade cloth protected the patch from sun and deer.
becomes the cultivator. Intracking temperatures, I believe the temperature fluctuation from day to night, a
circadian cycle, is critical for the formation and development of Morels. From my charts, I have found that
limited temperature changes, from 40-60° F. (4-16° C.) for several weeks during early spring triggers
mushroom formation. Once the seasonal temperatures move beyond this critical period of fluctuation, no
new Morels form. Temperatures as high as 60°F. (15.6°C.) cause the young mushrooms that have formed
to rapidly develop to maturity.
Morels are easy to grow by buying spawn and implanting it into your backyard. Fall plantings have
the highest success rates which I estimate at 50%. However, it takes oniy a few minutes to install a
Morel bed, especially if you have ready access to wood ash or a bumsite. Once a fruiting Morel patch
is established, the success rate jumps to about 90% for subsequent years,
provided a new habitat is
created and additional spawn is introduced at the same time each year. In Nature, every ecological
niche is unique. The trick is to not only find the right location for yourMorel patch, but to have conducive
weather conditions in the early spring. Protecting the Morel patch from the sun and marauding
animals is absolutely essential.
First, acquire sawdust spawn of a proven, fruiting strain ofMorchella angusticeps. Five pounds of
Morel spawn is roughly equivalent to a gallon. This amount of spawn is good for inoculating a4 ft. x 4
ft. to 10 ft. x 10 ft. bed. Inoculations are best conducted in the summer to early fall. Black Morel
spawn is available from Fungi Perfecti whose address is listed in the resource section in the Appendix.
You have two options for creating a Morel patch. The first is the simplest. Select a bumsite (campfire,
fire-pit, bonfire site, etc.) that has had a fire in the past month and is well shaded. (Avoid sites
where chemically treated wood, paper or plastics have been used.) Spade and mix the Morel spawn
deep into the ashes and burnt wood. Heavily water the site and ignore it until early next April. If rain
does not fall for more than 2-3 days in April and May, a few minutes of watering in the morning and
evening can only help. Well water is fine. Do not use chlorinated water.
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