How many days after rain do mushrooms appear and how quickly do they grow (+19 photos)?

There's a common misconception that mushroom hunting should follow a good rain. But few can accurately determine how many days after rain it takes for mushrooms to appear. Different species grow at different rates—some only need a few hours, while others can take weeks. To accurately determine when to go mushroom hunting after rain, it's important to understand the individual growth habits of different mushrooms.

Rain and other factors affecting mushroom growth

The idea that mushrooms grow rapidly after rain isn't entirely accurate. Rain alone can't trigger massive mushroom growth. Many other factors influence growth rate. The most significant of these are considered to be the following:

1. Temperature.
2. Humidity.
3. Lighting.
4. Chemical composition of the soil.
5. Harmful insects.

The humidity factor involves two components: air humidity and soil moisture. Each species has its own preferences, but as a general rule, 70% is considered the optimal humidity level for good growth. Soil moisture should match air humidity. If heavy rainfall is followed by a prolonged drought, mushrooms will grow slowly because moisture from the soil will evaporate quickly. This will result in the soil becoming over-dried and the air becoming over-humid, upsetting the balance.

Proper lighting plays a significant role in active mushroom growth. Many species prefer to grow in sunny clearings or partial shade. If the forest becomes too overgrown, they lack light. This slows their growth and causes them to become deformed, losing their visual appeal.

Most edible mushrooms prefer slightly acidic soil. The only exceptions are a few species that thrive in sandy, limestone, and other soil types. Altering the soil's chemical composition not only stunts growth but also leads to the extinction of entire mushroom families.

Myceliums and their above-ground parts are susceptible to infection by the larvae of certain harmful insects. Affected myceliums produce little fruit, and the mushrooms are small and grow very slowly. Mechanical damage can lead to rot and other serious diseases. Most mushroom species experience active growth in the fall, followed by a process of massive decay.

Most people think of mushrooms as fruiting bodies, typically consisting of a stem and a cap. In reality, this is only the above-ground portion of a complex organism. The mycelium, or mushroom spawn, is located beneath the soil, growing steadily throughout its lifespan. Weather conditions do not affect mycelium growth; it grows equally well after heavy rain as during severe frosts.

The best time to pick different types of mushrooms is summer and autumn.

The first mushrooms appear in April, but May is considered the official opening month of the mushroom season. Mushroom hunting typically continues through October. However, if the weather is favorable, new mushrooms can appear in November and even December.

When harvesting, it's best to follow a mushroom calendar. By following its data, mushroom pickers are less likely to encounter inedible lookalikes. The following table details the entire growing season for certain edible species.

The first harvest is much smaller than the harvest collected during the period of active mushroom growth. Below are data on the peak growth periods for specific edible species.

Interestingly, during the Indian summer, you can find varieties from all seasons. Afterward, mushroom pickers are left to gather only the remnants of the autumn harvest and winter honey mushrooms.

Duration of the mushroom period for different species

In warm, sunny weather, a good rainfall brings a multitude of new mushrooms to the forest. To determine the mushroom's age, simply knowing the length of the growing season for certain species is sufficient.

The most common species in Russia have the following growth periods:

• porcini mushrooms reach large sizes already 2-3 days after warm rain;

  

  

  

• butter mushrooms: young fruits are collected 5-7 hours after rain, they fully ripen on the 3rd day, after which they are considered spoiled;

  

  

  

• aspen mushrooms grow several cm per day;

  

  

  

• birch boletes require about 4-5 days to fully ripen;

  

  

• honey mushrooms appear 24 hours after rain, and it takes them a week to reach maturity;

  

  

• young chanterelles wait up to 3 weeks;

  

  

• Veselka mushrooms and morels can grow up to 30 cm in 1 hour.

  

  

Most species grow for 3 to 5 days. Full maturity typically occurs by the 10th day. Remarkably, the fungi grow equally actively both day and night, without any resting time. As autumn approaches, growth slows. This is due to lower air temperatures.

Rules and meeting places after rain

Experienced mushroom pickers always follow the basic rules of mushroom picking:

1. Don't put suspicious fruits in your basket.
2. Collect only well-known species, otherwise there is a risk of confusing edible mushrooms with poisonous look-alikes.
3. Cut off the mushroom units with a knife, rather than breaking them with your hands, so as not to damage the mycelium.
4. Do not harvest near roads or industrial areas.
5. Observe the subtleties of the technology of collecting and preparing certain types.

Each species has its own habitat preferences. The following table summarizes the habitats of the most well-known mushroom species.

You can harvest mushrooms from May until the first frost.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Good rain and warm weather stimulate mushroom growth. However, different species have their own growth periods, so mushroom picking should be planned for a specific time, taking into account rainfall and the individual maturation rates of individual species.

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