mushrooms or toadstools?

[Jan]

Hi all,
last year I noticed that I had a sizeable crop of what looked like mushrooms appear in some areas that had been manured - anyone know if these are edible?

[nick the grief]

My advice would be if you aren't sure leave it well alone. There are loads of poisonous fungi that look OK to eat but if you don't know you are asking for trouble.

Have a look in the local library to see if anyone is doing a fungi foray in the autumn if you want to learn - the loacal Natural history society may be able to help you out.

[rustylady]

Used to pick wild mushrooms with my Dad when I was little (long time ago), but personally I wouldn't pick anything now as there are too many poisonous fungi and unless you really know what you are doing you could make yourself really ill. Stick to mushroom kits.

[Snadger]

If you manured with either spent mushroom compost or horse muck there's a strong possibility of mushrooms the following year!

As has already been stated though, if in doubt, leave them alone.

If you are on an allotment, one of the more knowledeable plot holders could possibly guide you as to whether they are edible! Offer him/her a few and if he/her keels over, leave them alone!

[Alice]

I'm with everybody else Jan. If you're not 100% certain, don't even think about eating them.

[Benacre]

Mushrooms and Toadstools are the same they are called Macro fungi and are classified as Basidiomycetes.

I would be happy to run a Fungi Forum where fungi photographs could be uploaded and I may be able to identify them.

ATM Flammulina velutipes (Velevet Shank) and Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster Fungus) is currenly in season followed by Ployporus sulphureus (Chicken of the Woods)

[Benacre]

Fair comment but I would not say if anyone could eat it just a guide as to what can be seen for aesthetic reasons mainly but I do agree it could be dangerous if someone picked the wrong one. through my mis identification

[Snadger]

The photo you have of Chicken Of The Woods looks nothing like the real thing.

How do you know this Lesley?, you haven't finally persuaded HFW to come to tea have you! Lol

[Alice]

Good idea Benacre. I'm not for eating any of them, but I do have fungi which pop up here and there and would be interested to know what they are as at the moment I know nothing about them. So please do post fungi in season and I might learn something about what is going on. Thank you.

[Benacre]

Ok but just remember I have not said you can eat it. ONLY if YOU are sure it is safe you should eat it.
There thats my Public Liability covered.
Ben

[Alice]

And I have said I will NOT eat any of it, only interested to know what it is.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Bet that gave the GYO lawyers a scare!

[Jan]

Hi Benacre, I think that's a really great idea as I would love to be able to develop an interest in these. I TAKE YOUR POINT LJ NO WORRIES - I am just very interested to maybe go on a workshop or something to learn more as 'wild mushrooms' sound like agreat additional crop if possible - I never really fancied the kits, it all sounds a bit 'sterile' to me - as well as just being able to learn more about this as a traditional food source (and thing of beauty)

[Snadger]

I went on a free mushroom foray organised by the local council a couple of years ago. We brought some blueit's back and cooked them in milk. Much better than the mushroom soup you buy! We were also advised on which guidebooks to buy (don't ask which one, as I was too tight to buy them!)
I eat only what I know to be safe from the fields and woods and would recommend a short guided mushroom foray lead by a competent expert.

[Jan]

sound great - I'll make some enquiries. Maybe I could expand this (contraversial?) question to include other things not normally 'grown' as such but still edible? ie at the back of my garden which backs onto forest & fields etc we have a tree which I was told some time ago by a 'more greenfingered' member of my hubby's country family, is wild bullace. Taking his advice, we harvested some fruits and made the most fabulous jam - everyone wanted some
I also know that you can make cordial out of elerflowers and , so I'm told, dandelions and even baby nettle shoots are edible. To continue this thread with other advice about stuff you can harvest that you didn't necessarily plant (I sure didn't plant all the nettles & dandelions !)would be great.

If so, would it be possible (speaking as one who is technologically challenged) to change the initial name of this thread to better reflect this theme as it might attract more responses?
Thanks for all the advice so far grapes (and LJ)