More Morels?
Living in mid-Missouri allows the outdoorsman many opportunities to enjoy what Mother Nature provides us. One of these opportunities is Morel mushroom hunting.
Morel mushroom hunting is a hobby that anyone can do as long as they know what they’re looking for. Morel mushrooms grow in the wild here in Missouri and are edible if you know where to find them and how to prepare them. Some sources suggest that Morels need a soil temperature to be 45-50 degrees while other sources say 50-60 degree soil temperatures are the sweet spot. Right now, most of Missouri's soil is between 55 and 60 degrees.
Another key factor for Morel growth is moisture. You’ll likely see these mushrooms popping up a few days after a good rain. Since we saw a lot of rain on Saturday, this week will be a great time to get out and look.
The last thing you need to know before you head out the door is what a Morel looks like! The top of this mushroom has a honeycomb head that is yellow-brown. The stem is hollow and can be broken by pinching it.
I didn’t have much luck finding Morels today, but I did find their counterpart, false Morels, which the Department of Conservation says can cause illness in some people if consumed.
SOME USEFUL LINKS:
https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/downloads/page/MushroomGuide.pdf
https://mrcc.illinois.edu/RMP/
