After heavy rains, avid mushroom pickers head out on a quiet hunt to their favorite mushroom spots. One such place is the Leningrad Region, where a wide variety of mushroom species can be found. Before heading mushroom-picking in the Leningrad Region, be sure to familiarize yourself with photos, descriptions, and names of the edible mushrooms native to the area.
Mushroom distribution and harvesting seasons in the Leningrad Region in 2020
In 2020, mushroom picking should be done with particular care. This is due to the construction of new roads and factories, which pollute the environment. The mushrooms quickly absorb toxic substances, so they should be picked away from factories, plants, and highways.
The following are the cleanest mushroom-growing areas in the Leningrad region:
- In the Priozersk district there is a pine forest where many edible mushrooms bear fruit after the rains.
- Every local mushroom picker knows the village of Zakhodskoye. It's easy to get to, as there's a commuter train there.
- You can also take the commuter train from St. Petersburg to the village of Sosnovo, where a large number of mushroom species live in the pine forest.
Mushroom place - Experienced mushroom pickers recommend a trip to the village of Kirillovskoye, whose forests are rich in mushrooms.
- Once you pass the Vsevolozhsk region, you can easily find Sosnovy Bor using a map.
- In the Luzhsky District, you can find a forested area by driving south from the lake. For a more precise location, it's best to use a local map.
You may be interested in:It is also worth exploring the forests near St. Petersburg, which are rich in edible mushrooms.
Most silent hunters gather for fruit in the fall, after the first rains. The peak fruiting period occurs in mid-autumn: late September and throughout October.
Edible mushrooms of the Leningrad region
The Leningrad Region's forests offer a vast selection of edible mushrooms. By studying their photos and descriptions, you can avoid making mistakes while foraging.
Photos and descriptions of morels
The conditionally edible morel can be found in the spring. Its cap is ovoid and covered with numerous wrinkles, similar in appearance to a nutshell. The surface is glossy and blackish-brown. Morels can reach 15 cm in length and 10 cm in width. The stem is hollow and widens toward the cap. Half of the stem is contained within the cap and is also wrinkled, but not as deeply.
The white flesh has a very pleasant flavor and a mushroom aroma. The flesh is thin and crisp.
It inhabits deciduous and mixed forests. It can often be found in coniferous forests, parks, and even apple orchards. Fruiting begins in May and ends in June. If the autumn is long and warm, morels can be seen even in early October.
Truffles
The Leningrad region is famous for more than just its mushrooms. A very rare and valuable species grows here: truffles. They grow underground and are distinguished by their tuberous shape. Truffles range in size from a small hazelnut to a potato tuber. The outer part of the fruit is the leathery layer (peridium), which is characterized by a smooth or cracked surface. They can also have small warts on the surface.
The flesh is veined with dark and light veins. The fruit's appearance resembles a quince or a wrinkled apple.
Animals such as dogs and pigs are often used to search for truffles, as the treasure is buried about 15 cm underground. The locations are kept secret, as a few grams of truffles can bring in considerable profit.
White mushroom
The porcini mushroom belongs to the genus Boletus, hence its common nickname, "porcini boletus." Mature specimens have a cap diameter of 7-30 cm, but larger specimens have been observed, reaching 50 cm. The cap's surface often cracks during dry periods. At high humidity, the cap becomes slightly slimy. The surface color varies from brownish-red to almost white. As the mushroom matures, the skin darkens, often acquiring a lemon, yellow, or purple hue.
You may be interested in:The firm flesh has a meaty and juicy consistency, which becomes fibrous and yellowish in mature boletus mushrooms. Young mushrooms have white flesh that remains unchanged when cut. If the surface is rather dark, the flesh may be brown or have a tan tint. The aroma and flavor of porcini mushrooms are subtle, but they become more pronounced when cooked.
The stem reaches 25 cm in height, but most fruits have a stem of about 12 cm. Its shape is club-shaped, but with age it can change to a cylindrical shape, widening or narrowing in the center. The base of the stem usually remains thickened.
Oyster mushrooms
Oyster mushrooms can be found in the Leningrad Region in September and October, and even as late as late November during warm autumns. They are found on stumps, deciduous trees, or dead wood. The mushrooms grow in clusters, but solitary specimens are also found.
The maximum diameter of the ear-shaped cap is 30 cm. Young oyster mushrooms are characterized by a convex cap with inverted edges. The surface is wavy and smooth to the touch. Color varies depending on the growing location and age. Young specimens are dark gray or brownish, while mature mushrooms are ash-gray with a purple tint. Over time, the caps fade to a yellowish or whitish color.
The oyster mushroom's stipe is difficult to spot at first, as it grows up to 5 cm tall and about 2 cm wide. It's usually lateral and tapers toward the base. The white skin of the stipe becomes too tough with age, so it's not usually used for cooking or preserves.
The flesh is dense, white, and odorless. The flavor is quite pleasant. A single cluster can contain up to 30 oyster mushrooms, so a basket will quickly fill with a healthy harvest.
Veselka
The phasorius phasorius is considered a medicinal mushroom, widely used in folk medicine to treat a wide variety of ailments. The fruit reaches 30 cm in height. Young phasorius phasorius mushrooms are ovoid, while mature mushrooms open into 2-3 lobes. The hollow stem is white or yellow. A bell-shaped cap, up to 5 cm in height, forms at the top. The cap's surface is slimy and covered with small cells.
Overripe mushrooms have a very unpleasant odor, so it's recommended to pick young stinkhorns. The "quiet" season lasts from May until mid-autumn. Stinkhorns can be found in broadleaf forests where the soil is rich in humus.
Butterlets
Butterlets They love to grow under birch, oak, and coniferous trees. They are not found in dense forests; they prefer lighted areas, forest edges, and forest paths.
The butter mushroom cap is conical or spherical, becoming cushion-shaped as it grows. The surface is gray-olive, brown, or yellowish-brown. A distinctive feature of butter mushrooms is the slimy surface of the cap, which appears to have been doused with oil.
The skin is easily separated from the flesh. The cylindrical stem grows 5-10 cm in height. The underside of the stem is dark, while the top is white. The dense flesh is white with a yellowish tint. The cut surface takes on a purple or red color.
Among the varieties of butter mushrooms, the most common in the Leningrad region is the common butter mushroom, and in damp places, the yellowish butter mushroom.
You may be interested in:Honey mushrooms
Autumn honey mushrooms are edible mushrooms and have excellent flavor. Young honey mushrooms develop a convex cap, which flattens over time. The edges of the cap of an adult mushroom are wavy, and the diameter of the cap itself reaches 12 cm. A small bump or light-colored scales can often be seen in the center of the cap. The surface color is beige or brownish.
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The thin, fibrous stem grows to about 10 cm. Its surface is covered with light-brown scales. The white flesh has a pleasant flavor and aroma. Overripe mushrooms are quite tough, so only young ones are harvested.
Honey mushrooms can be found in deciduous forests. They grow on fallen trees and stumps. The peak fruiting period is September.
Sarcoscypha austriaca
This species is considered little-known, so it's often avoided by those who prefer "silent" hunting. The taste of this mushroom is rather poor, as its flesh is cartilaginous and somewhat tough.
Sarcoscypha is a spring mushroom. Fruiting occurs in April and May, but during a long, warm autumn, fruiting bodies can continue into late November. The cap is small—1-5 cm. The stem height varies from 1-3 cm. The bright red cap has inward-curving, whitish edges. The dense flesh has a mushroom-like aroma.
Sarcoscypha austriaca prefers humus-rich soil. It grows on moss, decaying leaves, and rotting wood.
Raincoat
In this region, you can find not only honey mushrooms or butter mushrooms, but also some rather unusual mushrooms. One of them is raincoat, which is a representative of the Champignon family.
The fruit body is closed. The mushroom is pear-shaped, rounded, and often has a prominent pseudostem. The surface is covered with small spines, which may fall off in mature puffballs. Mature puffballs develop a small opening at the top, which facilitates reproduction. Puffballs can be found in August or early September.
You may be interested in:Answers to frequently asked questions
Honey mushrooms have poisonous lookalikes, so only experienced mushroom pickers collect them. The most valuable mushroom in the Leningrad Region is the truffle. This species is very difficult to find, as it grows underground, not on the surface. Even a small quantity of these fruits can generate income equal to the average monthly salary.
The Leningrad Region is rich in forest bounty. Knowing the best mushroom locations and harvesting times can help you prepare excellent winter preserves. However, safety precautions must be followed during harvesting.
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