Morel mushrooms are not put on a pedestal for anything – they are very hard to grow at home so once you crack the code and are able to grow your very own collection, you will earn a lot of respect in the mushroom community!
They have a unique nutty flavor which makes them great to cook with, but you should be careful as they are poisonous if eaten raw.
What makes them so hard to grow at home is that they are particularly fussy about their environment so you have to replicate it as best you can. To figure out how to do this, you should keep reading this guide.
An Introduction To Morel Mushrooms
Morel mushrooms have a peculiar appearance, with a cone-shaped crown and a sponge-like feel. They are normally two to four inches tall.
The caps stand upright and range in hue from pale cream to nearly black, with a distinct pitted texture. They have an earthy, nutty, and woodsy flavor. The smokier, nuttier, and earthier the flavor, the darker the color of the morel.
The size and appearance of morels vary widely. Their form can vary from rectangular to bulbous, and their hue can range from blonde to grey. They are easily distinguished by their honeycomb-like surface. A morel’s inside is white and hollow.
Despite efforts to produce morels, they are incredibly difficult to farm, thus they have to be foraged and gathered where they naturally grow.
Morels are often found in forested parts of North America and Europe. Morel mushrooms thrive well in warm, moist circumstances.
Morels commonly appear near creeks or streams, as well as on flood plains. Because of the wetness and the possibility that mushroom spores were brought there by the floodwaters, areas that have recently flooded are especially ideal places to inspect.
Morel Mushroom Varieties
Gray Or White Morel
These morels have lighter-colored crowns that range in hue from white to beige to pale grey. They are among the simplest to recognize as real morels due to their characteristic appearance and color, and they often occur at the end of the season.
Black Morel
Early in the season, black morels are frequently the first to grow. Pore ridges and black caps that do not hang freely and frequently curl under themselves as they join to the stems will be present.
When young, the Morel has a creamy, white-yellow stem that darkens, becomes more transparent, and becomes easily damaged.
They like hardwood woods that have recently burned within the last one to two years. The burn section is optional, but if it occurred, it will be a major benefit.
Yellow Morel
The yellow morel mushroom is possibly what makes morel mushrooms famous. They can be as little as a child’s thumb, with grey or yellow heads. Their cap pits resemble the holes of a marine sponge.
The stem starts off creamy white, then becomes brittle and gritty until becoming stronger (than any other morel species) when completely developed.
Half-Free Morel
The caps of these mushrooms are partially removed from the stem, giving the cap a skirt-like look. They normally occur in the midst of morel season, and while they are edible, they can be difficult to recognize since they resemble non-edible mushroom types.
While the half-free morel isn’t the most thrilling in terms of flavor, it’s still edible; yet, some individuals have reported experiencing stomach trouble after eating it.
How To Grow Morel Mushrooms At Home
Growing morel mushrooms is a difficult process that might take years. From the moment you sow the spores until a nice colony of mushrooms forms, you may have to wait three to five years. Therefore, morel mushrooms are highly valued.
It is tough to grow morel mushrooms indoors. You will need to duplicate their advantageous growth circumstances outside. Morels’ growth habits are variable, making farming more difficult.
There are several commercial kits on the market that claim to allow you to cultivate your own morel mushrooms, each with precise instructions. However, a number of highly successful home formulations have been devised.
Growing morels requires properly prepared soil with enough decaying wood waste, the right amount of shade and moisture, and a source of morel fungal spores.
One popular home recipe for spore combination begins with heating one gallon of purified water and then adding one tablespoon of molasses and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
The molasses will give the mushrooms energy to develop, while the salt will keep germs at bay.
Allow the water to cool to room temperature before adding the shredded morel mushrooms. Allow the mixture to remain for two days before straining it through cheesecloth and collecting the liquid containing the tiny spores.
Sprinkle the liquid over the prepared soil area to plant the spores. Cover the area with about 1/4 inch of compost and check it regularly for mushroom development.
Do not be disheartened if you do not see mushroom growth in the first year. You could obtain a few mushrooms, but in most situations, the process of building a colony can take many years.
Looking After Morel Mushrooms
Soil
It’s no surprise that morel mushroom clusters develop near dead, rotting, or burned trees. The nutrients supplied by dead trees and forest leaf litter generate the loamy soil in which morel mushrooms grow.
Wood ash, wood chips, peat moss, and sand are other good soil amendments for producing morels. Many homeowners have had luck producing morels in the vicinity of a tree stump.
Alternatively, you may prepare the soil for the mushrooms by adding enough rotting wood chips from ash, elm, or oak tree.
Light
Morel mushrooms thrive in the filtered light of woodlands. They grow under and around deciduous trees including elm, ash, apple, and oak, and they often appear before the trees have leafed out.
Fungi species such as morel mushrooms, unlike plants, do not produce chlorophyll. Instead of assisting mushrooms in growing, the sun’s light warms the soil.
Temperature And Humidity
Morel mushrooms thrive in chilly, wet conditions. The classic spring weather of 60-70 degree Fahrenheit days and cold evenings in the 40s, with sporadic rain and cloudy days, will lengthen the morel growth and harvesting season.
Morels, on the other hand, wither away rapidly when the weather is dry and hot.
Water
Moisture is essential for the growth of morel mushrooms. Your morel growth environment should be as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Watering using collected rainwater is preferable to using chlorinated tap water.
Fertilizer
Morel mushrooms require no fertilizer other than good soil. Morel mushroom beds benefit from the addition of compost, wood ash, leaf mold, and composted manure.
Cooking With Morel Mushrooms
Morels are fragile and should be handled with care. They must also be cleaned more thoroughly than other mushrooms.
Shake them clean, then rinse them in cold water before lifting them out and drying them. Wait until you’re ready to prepare morels before cleaning them. They will soak up water, become mushy, and rot faster if left to rot with a little dirt on them.
Once cleaned, morels often do not need any preparation. Cut the mushrooms in half or quarters; smaller ones can be left whole.
Morels should be prepared; eating them uncooked might induce stomach distress and cramping. It’s also a good idea to eat in moderation.
Storing Morel Mushrooms
Unwashed morels should be stored in a paper bag to allow them to air and used as soon as feasible. Time in the refrigerator will just dry them out, however, it will keep them fresh for up to a week. Plastic bags might hasten decay.
Morels can be frozen once they have been fully dried. Many of those who do so claim to be able to make it through the winter.
When you eat them, they will still taste great, but the texture will be all mush. If you’re going to mince or puree them anyhow, this is acceptable, but it’s not ideal for other purposes. Morels can also be dried and stored for up to six months.
Summary
Even though you will hear over and over again how difficult it is to grow morel mushrooms at home, you should not take it as a sign to give up.
Because, if you put in the steps that we have talked about in this article, you will be able to grow your very own morel mushrooms as long as you put in the time and effort that they require.
Once you are successful, you will be able to cook some of the most delicious dishes with these mushrooms and leave people in wonder about how you tamed the morel mushroom.
