Bavaria's mushroom season starts poorly due to dry summer

Bavaria's mushroom season has kicked off to a disappointing start, with foragers finding meager hauls instead of the expected bounty of chanterelles, porcini, or marone mushrooms. The primary culprit is the region's dry and exceptionally hot summer, which has severely limited the growth of fungi.

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There was hardly any rain, it was extremely hot.

Christoph Hahn, president of the Bavarian Mycological Society, lamented the lack of rain, explaining that while extensive underground mycelial networks exist, the dry conditions prevent them from regenerating and producing the visible fruiting bodies that mushroom hunters seek. He noted that substantial rainfall is needed for the fungi to recover, but the duration of this recovery period remains uncertain.

The sluggish start to the season is also reflected in the significantly lower number of calls to the Technical University of Munich's poison control center. Florian Eyer, head of the center, reported a "low double-digit range" of inquiries this year, a stark contrast to the 380 to 650 annual calls received in the past two years. However, Eyer cautioned that an increase in calls is expected between mid-September and early October if the dry weather persists.

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They first have to regenerate and do not have much opportunity to form fruiting bodies.

While both edible and poisonous mushrooms are affected by the drought, some species, like the false meadow mushroom, which has migrated from the Mediterranean, are better equipped to handle dry spells. This species can be easily mistaken for the edible field mushroom, leading some mushroom advisors to refrain from classifying it as harmless. Hahn also observed that many mushroom advisors are currently experiencing a significant drop in visitors, with only two people seeking advice compared to the previous 30.

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in the low double-digit range

Experts advise leaving small mushrooms unpicked, as they are harder to identify and increase the risk of misidentification. They suggest enjoying the forest walk as a consolation. If sufficient rain occurs soon, the season might improve later in September and early October, particularly for mushrooms that grow in symbiosis with trees, provided their host trees can recover from summer drought damage.

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Then one should simply say to oneself: At least it was a nice walk in the forest.