Spring has officially arrived, and that means the welcome return of so much – from longer, sunnier, and warmer days to colorful flowers blossoming. Birds, like the ruby-throated hummingbird, begin returning to the state, and morel mushrooms start popping up. If you’re a fan of morel mushrooms in Pennsylvania, a delicacy that adds that extra bit of oomph to any recipe, you’ve got a really short window of time to get out and start finding them.
Morel mushroom season is extremely short in Pennsylvania. The popular spring fungi are typically found from the middle of April through the middle of May.
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That still gives you time to start plotting where you will find your mushrooms; and, perhaps just as importantly, how you will identify them.
Flickr/Fritz Flohr Reynolds
These edible mushrooms typically grow best in moist areas and are particularly around trees that are dying or are already dead. They’re commonly found among elm and apple trees, for example.
Flickr/Brett Whaley
During the early part of the morel mushroom season, concentrate your search in sloping areas that face the south. Alternate that and focus on finding morel mushrooms in sloping areas that face the north during the final two weeks of the season.
John Brighenti/Flickr
Morel mushrooms typically grow quickly, in a span of one to two days, so you might want to recheck spots you already looked. Most of these popular delicacies grow to a height of two to four inches.
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Finding and picking the mushrooms is just the first step in your journey. You must also properly identify them to ensure they are, indeed, safe to eat.
Flickr/Dennis Murphy
To determine whether the mushrooms you’ve found are real morel mushrooms or fake morel mushrooms, cut them open straight down the middle. You’ll know it’s authentic if it is hollow inside – from the base to the tip.
Flickr/Wayne
You can also use photographs and descriptions to identify the mushrooms. If you use this method, make sure you don’t count on just one photograph. You can also ask a mushroom expert to confirm you’ve found authentic morel mushrooms.
Flickr/Ken Mattison
If you’re interested in getting into mushroom hunting, you might want to look into joining a mushroom club in your area of the state - Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club, Eastern Penn Mushroomers, or Central PA Mushroom Club, for example.
Flickr/Ken Mattison
Have you tried the morel mushrooms in Pennsylvania? Where did you go hunting for them? Share your experience in the comments! Ready to spend even more time outdoors this spring? Here are 11 must-visit outdoor destinations in Pennsylvania to get you started.
Flickr/LadyDragonflyCC - >;<
Flickr/Fritz Flohr Reynolds
Flickr/Brett Whaley
John Brighenti/Flickr
Flickr/flutterby
Flickr/Dennis Murphy
Flickr/Wayne
Flickr/Ken Mattison
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