Help with these mushrooms, Can anyone help ?

[mismail]

I haven't imported anything. and up until a month or so ago the area just had soil/compost , as I kept it plant free. then a month ago I planted a pumpkin plant about 3 feet away from where the mushrooms are growing.

Then I got a huge branch that you can see in the pictures, and lay it on the ground for the pumpkin plant to climb around it. 2 weeks ago I noticed these mushrooms popping up.

the only other thing is that up until february this year i used to get foxes digging up this area and also i think hide food or things in the soil.

Thanks

[fairplay]

Han,

Where Mike says "let them dry out naturally .... ideally in a paper bag on a radiator or similar", he is absolutely right - but do make sure additional heat (from a radiator or in an airing cupboard) is used as 'naturally' on its own may be too slow and if maggots are inside, they will continue to chomp away leaving a mushroom Aero or a soggy mess !!

There is no harm in cutting the biggest one in half to speed up the process - simply place the cap face down, cut through the stem and through the cap so you have 2 matching halves. Kew are only after the microscopic details of the cells, not the overall shape.

One final thing, try to handle them as gently as possible so as not to spoil the ornamentation on the stalk.

Neil.

[Andy Overall]

Originally Posted by mismail

I haven't imported anything. and up until a month or so ago the area just had soil/compost , as I kept it plant free. then a month ago I planted a pumpkin plant about 3 feet away from where the mushrooms are growing.

Then I got a huge branch that you can see in the pictures, and lay it on the ground for the pumpkin plant to climb around it. 2 weeks ago I noticed these mushrooms popping up.

the only other thing is that up until february this year i used to get foxes digging up this area and also i think hide food or things in the soil.

Thanks

Hi there,

I do believe you contacted me a few days ago regarding these Melanoleuca verrucipes fruiting in your garden. I asked you which substrate they were fruiting on and whereabouts you were in London. Unfortunately you disappeared and didn't reply. I was going to add your record to the database, I just needed some details. I am the British Mycological Society, Group Leader for the London Fungus Group. This species is turning up quite frequently these days, so it's not as rare within the London area as is it may be further north. I have had three previous notifications of this species from the London area over the past coulpe of months, as well as my own collection. If you are interested in me drying them and getting them to Kew, you can contact me at mush.room@fungitobewith.org and I'll give you an address.

Best

Andy