Poor Weather Conditions

Nick_in_Scotland · #1 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 06:56 AM

This sunny, dry period is welcome to most people but it's not helping the mushrooms grow. This time last year I remember there was heavy rain, sometimes it would pour down for an entire day at the start of September. The result was an explosion of fungi growth of all kinds. I've noticed a pattern of "poor mushroom weather" over all the last Septembers since 2001, except for last year of course.

If the past few years are anything to go by, October should be better when the rains usually return. Twenty years ago I would have considered October the end of mushroom season (although now I search all year round).

Must go now to strip off and do a rain dance in the garden......

juliejam · #2 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 07:15 AM

Ive been saying exactly the same..Places i visited last yr at this time were doing well with fungi , but this year not much at all...Everything is so dry most of the places i visit are covered in leaf litter and with a heavy canopy of leaves light rain is not going to do much good..so like you im lookin forward to a good downpour and hopefully the fungi will come to life...

Julie

NickCantle · #3 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 10:26 AM

Same here. It hasn't been much better in Norfolk. (Not that i live there anymore

). I mean I was out on Wednesday looking in the Cep spot, and I was talking to a foreign chap who obviously liked his fungi. He explained to me about how he'd been up once every week, even after a bit a rain and he'd found 1 Cep...It was a nice size too. About 25cm Cap Diameter. And sure enough when he showed me where it had been found, the severed lower half of the stipe was completely hidden by Bracken. So the only place that he found one was where there was no chance that moisture could escape. But apart from that, seems dead...I'll be attending a foray on Sunday, so we'll see what's going on in Surrey. Actually, going back to wednesday, the most common fungi had to be Earthballs. These things were everywhere...and I mean, everywhere. All shapes, sizes, colours...I think I saw some worse for wear Death Caps, but they might have been Citrina...

Bring on the rain...

Nick

cybershot · #4 (**permalink**) 09-09-2007, 04:40 PM

I should have been attending the same 'Shrooms ABFG foray at Hawley and giving Nick a lift into the bargain but got sidelined by a nasty insect bite on my left foot which prevented me from getting any foot ware on this morning. Sorry mate, I'll introduce you to some more sites in the Farnham, Farnborough and Fleet locality ASAP.

David

NickCantle · #5 (**permalink**) 09-09-2007, 04:43 PM

Dave, i'm more concerned about the bite than the Foray, absolutely no need to apologise mate! Just hope you're bearing up ok! Plenty of time for more!!! Still dry though

cybershot · #6 (**permalink**) 09-09-2007, 04:51 PM

Liberal applications of Tea Tree & Witch Hazel cream seem to be doing the trick thanks Nick. It was a beautiful day today and it will be interesting to see what they came up with after this warm dry spell. Lots of Shaggy Ink Caps popping up in Minley Wood yesterday.

paulchandler6 · #7 (**permalink**) 12-09-2007, 10:45 PM

Rain coming next week folks, don't despair

Paul

Stewy · #8 (**permalink**) 12-09-2007, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulchandler6

Rain coming next week folks, don't despair

Paul

I do hope so!

Are we looking forward to a bumber season Ken?

Fungus Ken · #9 (**permalink**) 13-09-2007, 08:10 PM

I don't have a clue whether it will be a bumper season or not.

There seemed to be quite a bit around quite early this year but it has certainly gone quiet in the places I foray. This time last year the same places were seeing a bumper crop.

I hope there will be a new flush later in the month and into October. But given that I am leading a public foray in the Mersey Valley on Saturday, I'm not sure there's going to be much around to keep people entertained. It's at that point that I start pointing out little spots on leaves and people start drifting off, metaphorically and literally.

Ken

Stewy · #10 (**permalink**) 13-09-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fungus Ken

I don't have a clue whether it will be a bumper season or not.

There seemed to be quite a bit around quite early this year but it has certainly gone quiet in the places I foray. This time last year the same places were seeing a bumper crop.

I hope there will be a new flush later in the month and into October. But given that I am leading a public foray in the Mersey Valley on Saturday, I'm not sure there's going to be much around to keep people entertained. It's at that point that I start pointing out little spots on leaves and people start drifting off, metaphorically and literally.

Ken

Can you juggle Ken!