[sion01]

This is the first year that I haven't found a single edible field mushroom.I found one a week ago that the slugs had eaten but appart from that nothing.

I've been in this area 14 years and thought I'd sorted some ood sites but apparently not.I'm going to stay at my sisters where I was bought up next weekend so I'll be able to look in places where I know where good for mushrooms.If that doesn't work it'll be a nil point on the mushrooms this year.

Is it a bad year everywhere?

[Spana]

Not many here  this year so i haven't picked any of them.  I was afraid i had over-picked last year but not really sure if it works like that

[ex-cavator]

I hope when you say 'picked' mushrooms (the fruiting body) you mean cut off with a sharp knife just above the ground, otherwise you'll damage the mycelium - the extensive network of fibres that is the main plant underground. If the mycelium suffers too much damage due to 'picking' then it will die back, hence no mushrooms in subsequent years 

[sion01]

Got some today.At last.Dont worry ex-cavator mycelium are well cared for.

[Kleftiwallah]

Mushrooms thrive in very poor soil, if 'those in authority' or those susidised, have sprayed ANY form of soil improver, this will knock the mushrooms on the 'ead.    Cheers,    Tony.

[sunshineband]

No field mushrooms yet but some fairy ring ones have popped their heads up 

[sion01]

Mushrooms thrive in very poor soil, if 'those in authority' or those susidised, have sprayed ANY form of soil improver, this will knock the mushrooms on the 'ead.    Cheers,    Tony.

I agree with your'e point about mushrooms going for a burton when fertilizer is put on fields BUT there was a farm near my home when I was a kid that only used basic slag on the fields and the mushrooms seemed to thrive on it ,don't ask me why ,they just did.

With more farmers useing ATV's to fertilize areas where tractors can't get to mushrooms might be in even shorter supply in future

[Spana]

I always thought commercial mushrooms were grown on hot beds of horse muck 

[kegs]

Field Mushrooms - Where are they?

In my son's stomach - he's been bringing them back by the bag full !!!

[sion01]

Field Mushrooms - Where are they?

In my son's stomach - he's been bringing them back by the bag full !!!

That remind's me of when I was in secondry school.Selling mushrooms was one of my summer jobs.I'd get up by 6 in the morning and went to the farm that I mentioned above and picked 2 carrier bags full ,then sold them to the local shop.Then went back ,picked what was left and sold them on the side of a road on the way in to town.Happy days.