Unveil mushroom professionals: This is how you collect safely all year round!

Unveil mushroom professionals: This is how you collect safely all year round!

The fascination for mushrooms is moving more and more people into nature. On social media, mushroom collecting is very popular and inspires many to go into the forests. Steffen Frühbis, an experienced mushroom coach, goes into the exciting world of mushrooms in an interview and explains why you can go hunting for them all year round.

2024 could be a promising year for mushroom collectors. "The high rainfall by July favors growth," says Frühbis. But the warm temperatures in August and September slowed down the appearance of many mushrooms. In particular, known varieties such as the chestnut and spruce stone mushrooms are only hesitant. Nevertheless, anyone who deals with the fungus customer can find mushrooms all year round, even in winter.

mushrooms collect all year round

The assumption that food mushrooms only grow in autumn is a widespread misunderstanding. "Popular winter mushrooms such as the oyster sides or the velvet foot rübling are extremely tasty and easy to find," said Frühbis. In spring, for example, Morcheln and in summer you will find the summer stone mushroom. The variety of mushrooms is great, but many people primarily collect the varieties that are popular in autumn, which increases the wrong assumption.

Before you set off, the question arises: What equipment do you need? "It is important to transport the mushrooms in an air -permeable basket and not in plastic bags to avoid rapid decomposition," explains Frühbis. A small brush also helps to remove gross earth while a sharp knife is useful for cutting the well -known mushroom types.

Another important point is security when collecting mushrooms. "If you are not sure which fungus it is, you should take the entire stem base out of the ground. There are crucial features for determination," advises Frühbis. You should always use current determination books, since many toxins have only been discovered in recent years. In addition, apps should be used to determine the mushroom with caution, since they are often inaccurate and dangerous decisions can result.

legal aspects and collective awareness

In Germany, fungi may be collected for personal use in appropriate quantities. In Hesse there are special regulations that allow the forest to be entered in daylight as long as forest use is not affected. However, it is important to observe the legal limits, such as the ban on certain types and collecting in nature reserves.

Another risk is the health hazard from consuming false mushrooms, which can lead to severe poisoning. Every year the German Society for Mycology documents numerous cases of mushroom poisoning, often caused by ignorance or recklessness. "There are always people who eat raw mushrooms from the edge of the path without being clear about the way," warns Frühbis.

After collecting, the mushrooms should be cleaned and processed quickly. They contain a lot of protein that makes them perishable and must be treated like raw meat. In order to develop the full aroma, Frühbis advises to chew mushrooms well before you swallow them as their cell walls are made of chitin.

The current trend towards mushrooms is not only shown in the forests, but also on social media, where numerous special exhibitions on the topic take place. The interest in mushrooms is not without consequences; Experts warn of a possible extinction. Mushrooms suffer from various environmental factors such as surface sealing and nutrient entries. Again and again people report on a decrease in certain types of mushrooms. "It used to be nothing unusual to meet pastures full of mushrooms," reports Frühbis.

Overall, it turns out that the mushroom deflector is fascinating and diverse, but must also be respected and protected. Knowledge is of the greatest importance for a responsible collective practice. Anyone who deals with the basics of fungal science can not only enjoy a tasty but also a safe experience in the forest. Further information on these topics can be found in an article at www.giessener-allgemeine.de .