Chanterelles are the favorite summer mushrooms for most Russian mushroom pickers. In addition to their attractive appearance, they have a dense and delicate pulp, with a slight acidity in taste, which allows them to be used for a variety of culinary purposes. Of course, the question of the specific time and place of gathering delicious chanterelles is of interest to a lot of citizens, including residents of the vast Moscow region, in particular, Moscow Region.
What chanterelles grow in the suburbs
In the forests of the Moscow Region, you can find a huge number of different mushrooms, including common chanterelles (real) and their false relatives. Both options are yellow-orange funnel-shaped mushrooms, so they are easy to confuse. The main distinguishing feature is the presence of a wavy edge on real, fully edible mushrooms, while the "fake" is characterized by a more even edge.
Did you know? Chanterelles are probably the only mushrooms that are not affected by worms. The fact is that in their chemical composition there is a substance of quinomannosis, which destroys the egg capsules of parasitic worms and insects.
In addition, the color of the false fungus can be much brighter, and the edges of the cap are always lighter than the core. The surface of a real fox will be smooth, unlike a velvety and rough “fake”. The flesh of an edible mushroom is characterized by an attractive and delicate mushroom aroma, a pleasant, slightly sour taste.
Video: chanterelle mushrooms
Where grow
Over the years of mushroom picking, every true mushroom picker of the Moscow Region has probably compiled a map of the chanterelle growing places, but beginners in this matter have to rely only on their own guesses, given their preferred growing places. First of all, pay attention to the old mixed forest plantations, with a small number of birches, moss and pines.
Having found such a place, be sure to carefully examine the entire clearing, looking even in the most remote places of the site under the moss (carefully lift it with a spatula, without injuring the top layer of the mycelium). If you find at least one fox, you should continue your search in this place, because the rest of her family will probably be somewhere nearby. Single specimens are usually the result of the carelessness of previously passed mushroom pickers.
Important! Mushrooms growing near busy roads at airports or industrial sites should be avoided. Most likely, they have already managed to absorb toxic chemicals, so the quality of such a crop is very doubtful and can adversely affect human health.
You can find chanterelles in the Moscow Region zone in Chekhov, Serpukhov, Yegoryevsky, Domodedovo, Volokolamsk, Mozhaisk and some other urban districts. It is best to look for red-headed families in rotted foliage, grass or moss, located in open areas of mixed forests.
Growth season
Chanterelles belong to summer mushrooms, and in warm spring they can appear in forests even in mid-May. The peak of their growth occurs in July, and it is from this time that a large number of “hunters” can be found in the forests. The last mushrooms are available even in early October, but if you go far to the forest, but want to harvest a plentiful crop in the Moscow Region, give preference to the last two summer months.
Important! July-August is considered the most successful time for collecting chanterelles and not only because they are most, but also due to the lack of a wide variety of other mushrooms, sometimes hiding the necessary specimens. In autumn, it remains to be content with the remnants of the chanterelles, which are replaced by no less popular mushrooms and butter.
The main factors that help determine the best time for harvesting will be the following:
- Current weather conditions. As you know, the number of mushrooms in the forests increases after rains on warm summer days, which means that 3-4 days after rainfall, you can start collecting chanterelles. They reach their maximum productive sizes on about 6–9 days of growth.
- Times of Day. In the Moscow Region, it is best to go picking mushrooms in the morning until the sun has risen very high. Without bright sunlight, it’s much easier to see the glimpses of mushroom caps moistened with dew among pine needles and leaves.
Summer chanterelles are more attractive and nutritious than their autumn relatives, though September mushrooms are characterized by excellent taste and you should not forget about this.
Similar inedible mushrooms
The false version of this fungus, which almost completely resembles an edible one, is very similar to an ordinary chanterelle. In addition to small differences in the appearance of the “double”, the place of growth also gives it out, because unlike true chanterelles, pseudoides grow on old rotten stumps and snags.
Of course, the use of false mushrooms does not always lead to serious consequences for the body, but you can still poison them, especially if you ignore the rules of pre-treatment with soaking and boiling the harvested crop. With mild intoxication, damage to the gastrointestinal tract is possible, accompanied by nausea, pain in the stomach and vomiting, but severe poisoning sometimes leads to death.
The most mushroom places in the Moscow region
If you believe the experienced mushroom pickers near Moscow, then, as soon as the time of chanterelles begins, it is worth focusing on the following areas for their collection:
- Kursk (in particular, the Grivno and Kolkhoznoye stations, which can be reached from the Moscow station in the Kursk direction).
- Kazan (it is best to pick mushrooms near the Lukhovitsy, Chernaya, and 63 km Platform stations, always delving a few kilometers from railway flights).
- Yaroslavl (The area in the station area is characterized by special mushroom fertility.
- "Pushkino"from where mushroom pickers never come back with empty baskets).
- Ryazan (it is best to pay attention to the site near the Chernaya and Bronnitsa stations, delving into the forest about 3-4 km from the railway tracks).
- Gorkovsky (the direction farthest from the capital, where the 61 km platform and the Fryazino station, with an area of about 3 km in different directions from the stopping point, will be especially interesting for “chanterelle hunting”.
It does not matter where exactly you decide to collect the chanterelles, in the suburbs or other regions, it is always worth considering the optimal time to complete the procedure and listen to the recommendations of local mushroom pickers.
Did you know? Thawed chanterelles are always bitter, and in order to eliminate an unpleasant bitter taste, it is worth boiling them in milk beforehand and only after this start freezing.
Having decided to go to the indicated places in the Moscow Region, your efforts should definitely succeed, though only if the season and weather conditions allow.
