This morel was picked accidentally when I was cleaning up my outdoor shower and mulching azaleas with the leaves, near April 10 when the season was pretty much over here in Georgia. It came up on top of a handful of leaves which it was growing under.
This is the first morel I’ve ever picked when I wasn’t looking for them. I’ve found them when I wasn’t looking for them, but never picked one when I wasn’t looking for them. It is a place where I had thrown wash water from cleaning morels prior to cooking them. I found several a few years ago growing in another spot off my back deck where I’ve thrown water from washing morels. This reminded me of what an Italian friend told me a few years ago about proper picking and propagation of morels. I recently wrote him and asked him the source of his information. I’m adding his comments as he is an expert and I’ve learned a great deal from him about other edible species. At least it may start some dialogue that helps protect and propagate what we love to hunt and eat. Following is information from my Italian friend Riccardo.
What I know about the roots of all stemmed mushrooms (not just morels) is what I have read in specialized magazine and that the best way to pick any mushrooms is to gently rotate it holding it by the stem until the whole thing comes loose without pulling. This leaves the ifae under the ground and you do not rip them apart. If you cut the mushroom close to the ground you are promoting rot and diseases that could penetrate the whole mushroom plant underground. Another trick is to clean the mushroom on the spot as soon as you find them. This achieves two goals: spreading spores and bringing home a much cleaner loot.
Gary from Georgia.
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