SC - Re: SC Mushrooms

[RANDALL DIAMOND]

Jehanne asks:
> 
> p.s. Anyone in florida know if we can grow morels down here? I'm 
> tempted to
> start a patch...
> 
Nope, you can't.  Morels grow in temperate hardwood forests
which are predominately oak.  They require a very rich humus
of rotting leaves and sprout up in the middle spring.  I doubt that 
anywhere in Florida has anything close to proper growing
environments.  The humus rich soil might be right in some
of the St. John's river swamps, but be too wet.  These shrooms
grow out of matted layers of rotting oak leaves and wood.
To my knowledge, no one has been able to grow morels
successfully on any kind of commercial venture, so "starting
a patch" is not a possible option.  You can't even grow them
if you have ideal woods and perfect conditions.  They just
pop up whereever they want to.   You have to search diligently
in the proper woodland environs and when you find some, tell
no one as they are not common.  Some treasures you just
don't share.

Akim Yaroslavich (Who has been accused of having no morels.)
I'll never tell.