Table of Contents
The cultivation of morel mushrooms has puzzled both amateur and professional mycologists for a considerable period. Even now, it remains a relatively new and ongoing field of study, striving for perfection. Growing morels does not come with a guarantee due to the significant influence of various factors such as climate, conditions, location, and the quality and type of morel spawn.
With the growing understanding of these enigmatic mushrooms, it has become feasible to cultivate them. However, it is important to note that cultivating morels can be challenging, and it might take several years before any results are seen. Furthermore, the ease of cultivation varies among different morel species.
What are Morel Mushrooms?
Morel mushrooms, also known as Morchella, are a delectable variety of fungi characterized by their cap’s honeycomb-like appearance. Renowned for their rich, earthy flavor, they hold a special allure due to their rarity. Unlike other mushrooms, morels are not extensively cultivated on a large scale, making them highly sought after. Consequently, they are predominantly sourced from the wild, which presents its own challenges as morels adeptly blend into forest environments. The cost of morels can vary significantly, ranging from $30 per pound to several hundred dollars, depending on the specific variety and distance of transportation.
Naturally, enthusiasts of these prized mushrooms often seek alternatives to bypass the hefty price tag by growing or foraging for them personally. However, caution must be exercised during foraging as there exists a poisonous mushroom that resembles morels, known as false morels. However, if you are planning on cultivating your own Morel mushrooms this shouldn’t bother you at all.
Cultivating Morel Mushrooms at Home
The cultivation of morel mushrooms does not have a definitive, foolproof method. Both gardeners and scientists have yet to fully understand the precise conditions that foster Morel growth. Consequently, newcomers to the practice can expect a certain degree of trial and error.
The most preferred approach to growing morels involves utilizing a grow kit containing spawned morel mycelium. Alternatively, experienced growers may create their own slurries to initiate the cultivation process. While these are not the only methods available for attempting to plant morel mushrooms, they have shown the highest rates of success.
Morel Grow Kit Method
Online, there are many grow kits that come with everything needed to start a morel mushroom cluster. These products are easily accessible. Typically, a grow kit includes mushroom spawn or spores along with detailed planting instructions.
These kits offer the vegetative materials essential for growing morel mushrooms, but they do not include the environment or enclosure required to support their growth. Creating a suitable habitat becomes your responsibility. Establishing a space for your morel mushrooms is not overly challenging. All you need is a raised garden bed, often constructed from wood, which you can acquire from a store or build yourself. The size doesn’t have to be extensive; a 3’x3′ or 5’x5′ bed works perfectly fine.
Ensure that you position the bed in a shaded area during early fall, as morels thrive in cool and damp spaces. Place a barrier, such as cardboard, on the ground within the bed to separate it from the underlying soil. Then, add a mixture of peat moss and nutrient-rich soil onto the bed. The morel material you have collected should be broken up and evenly distributed throughout the soil in your planter. Finally, sprinkle some hardwood chips on top, as morels commonly grow near such trees in their natural habitat, and you’re ready to go.
Morel Slurry Method
Morel slurries are water suspensions infused with spores, which can be poured onto a prepared bed. Creating a slurry involves the use of wild morel mushrooms. It’s important to note that neither of these methods is superior to the other; they are simply two different approaches to achieving the same goal. Here is what you’ll need in order to make a Morel Slurry.
Ingredients:
- Several wild morel mushrooms
- 1/2 to 1 gallon of non-chlorinated water
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup of unsulfured molasses
Using a blender, combine all the ingredients until well mixed. Next, take a bucket and add some wood chips, fresh wood ash, and your prepared slurry. Fill the bucket with filtered water and introduce an aquarium airstone to ensure continuous airflow. Allow the mixture to sit for 1-2 days before spreading the spores over the designated areas in your yard or the designated beds where you intend to grow morels.
Why are Morel Mushrooms Hard to Grow?
If you’re aware of the unreliability of growing morels, you might be skeptical about the possibility of farming them yourself. Morels are delicate mushrooms, and even when you follow all the right steps, it’s possible to not see any results on your first attempt. Nonetheless, there are numerous gardeners who have achieved success, although it often requires multiple tries.
One of the challenges lies in the fact that morels cannot be grown indoors like many other mushrooms. This limitation reduces the gardener’s control over the growing conditions and combined with the finicky nature of morels, it results in a lower success rate. While using a grow kit can slightly improve your chances, it’s important to approach this endeavor with the understanding that farming morels is a long-term process that involves factors partially beyond your control. If it doesn’t work out initially, don’t be disheartened, just keep trying!
Will Morels Come Back Next Year?
Absolutely! By maintaining your growing site, you can anticipate the reappearance of morels in the following year. When you harvest morels, they leave behind spores and their mycelium network. New morels emerge from these sources, provided that the conditions are favorable. In the event of damage at the planting site, you can also preserve a few morels to create another spore slurry, ensuring the establishment of a new mycelium network.
While growing morels may pose challenges, they are not insurmountable. Following these guidelines can enhance your chances of success. However, the key is perseverance. Initially, your harvests may be modest, but with continued effort and repetition of the process over time, you can establish a flourishing colony of morel mushrooms right in your own yard. Enjoy the delightful and rich taste of morels without the need for an expensive price tag.
