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Various edible mushrooms grow in the wild. Our mushroom calendar gives you an overview of commonly encountered varieties and their season. This allows you to make a targeted search.

When is mushroom season?

At any time of the year we can find something, even in winter! However, when we talk about the mushroom season, we mean the time of the year when most mushroom varieties can be seen and when the greatest quantity is to be expected.

  • the main season in this country runs from late summer to early autumn
  • each type of mushroom has its own collection time, see mushroom calendar
  • the duration varies from variety to variety
  • it usually extends over several months
  • often preceded or followed by an off-season
  • in favorable weather, the mushroom season starts earlier or lasts longer
  • several rainy days in a row are advantageous
  • if it is very dry, the basket can remain largely empty even in the main season
  • there may also be climate-related regional differences

Notice: Some species of fungus are dependent on certain tree species. If their population in the forest is declining, they stay away too.

mushroom calendar

With our mushroom calendar you can get an overview of the entire mushroom season. The calendar with the different types of mushrooms mentioned in this article and the appropriate collection time is available for download here.

Mushroom varieties from A to D

russet

Source: No machine-readable author provided. Grindlesmutter assumed (based on copyright claims)., RussulaPaludosa, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.5
  • up to 8 cm high and 12 cm wide
  • white stem, semicircular red cap
  • occurs in moist coniferous forests
  • is in season from June to October
  • Likelihood of confusion: Spouting russet

Oyster Sailing

Source: Björn S… , Oyster Mushroom - Pleurotus ostreatus (26143987708), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • also known as veal mushroom
  • 5-15 cm wide, grey-brown to slightly violet
  • grows in clusters on hardwood trunks
  • Main occurrence in November to December as well as February and March
  • occasionally also in May, September and October
  • Likelihood of confusion: Yellow-stemmed Oyster Mushroom

birch mushroom

Source: Thomas Pruß, Birkenpilz (29), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • up to 15 cm high and wide
  • brownish cap, white stem with dark scales
  • can be found under birches (lives in symbiosis with them)
  • mainly from August to October
  • but also in June, July and November
  • Risk of confusion: with other boletus, which are non-toxic

patty

Source: Ernie, AD2009Sep06 Lactarius Volemus 03, Edited from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
  • not listed under that name in every mushroom calendar, as he owns many
  • approx. 12 cm high, 5-15 cm wide
  • Cap and stalk are orange, yellow lamellae,
  • milky liquid escapes in the event of injuries
  • Grows in deciduous and coniferous forests and along roadsides
  • from July to October
  • Special feature: strong fishy smell, makes mix-ups difficult

butter mushroom

Source: Björn S… , Solingen 09/23/2017 Slippery Jack - Suillus luteus (23973332568), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Cap 4-10 cm wide, brown, hemispherical and slimy
  • smells like fruit
  • Pine forests are his homeland
  • in the mushroom calendar it is from August to November
  • mainly in September and October
  • Likelihood of confusion: gold boletus

Notice: Although the mushroom is edible, it can cause allergic reactions. After eating the mushroom, gastrointestinal irritation was occasionally observed. Fungal skins are also said to cause diarrhea and indigestion.

Thorny Barbed Beard

Source: H. Krisp, Thorny Thorny Beard Hericium cirrhatum, Edited from Plantopedia, CC BY 3.0
  • 5 to 15 mm wide, with dense spines
  • Cap creamy white, later yellow-brown, white stem
  • occurs under deciduous trees such as beech and birch
  • August to November
  • Danger of confusion: Northern Oyster Mushroom, Pine and Igel Mane, Branch Mane

Tip: Only collect young specimens of this type of mushroom, as the flesh becomes tougher with age.

Mushroom varieties from E to G

noble charm

Source: furtwangl from West Seattle, 2009-09-28 Lactarius deliciosus, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 2.0
  • 5-10 cm wide, up to 7 cm high
  • initially flat, later funnel-like with a rolled-up edge
  • salmon-colored cap, orange stem (hollow in older mushrooms)
  • orange milk flow
  • widespread in pine forests
  • Season according to the mushroom calendar: August to October, sometimes also November
  • is often attacked by maggots
  • Danger of confusion: with other stimulus core

spruce cone root

Source: Andreas Kunze, 2005-03-28 Strobilurus esculentus, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • 1-3 cm wide brown cap with white lamellae
  • found in spruce forests
  • according to the mushroom calendar from March to June, sometimes in July
  • Risk of confusion: pine cone carrot

Bottle Puffball

Source: AJC1 from UK, Common Puffball (36352937694), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • about 4 cm tall
  • white with many small spikes
  • occurs in groups in coniferous and deciduous forests
  • June to October
  • Danger of confusion: pear puffball (but this only grows on wood!)

Notice: The flesh is white in young mushrooms, only they are edible. If the flesh of a specimen is dark, stay away, as it is poisonous!

lady russet

Source: Björn S… , Charcoal Burner - Russula cyanoxantha (45202732211), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • first semicircular, later flat mushroom cap, easy to peel off skin
  • its coloring ranges from violet-green to ochre
  • Stem and lamellae are white
  • in mixed forests, especially under beeches
  • July to October

Notice: There is a risk of confusion with other edible and poisonous russula. Therefore, only collect this type of mushroom if you can identify it with certainty!

gold boletus

Source: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, Boletus Suillus grevillei. (16424322871), Edited by Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
  • 3-10 cm wide slimy first hemispherical then cushion-shaped cap. 6-10 cm longer
  • hemispherical yellow cap up to 10 cm wide
  • slimy skin can be easily removed
  • yellowish stem, thickened below
  • grows under larches
  • July to October
  • Risk of confusion: with edible larch boletus

Mushroom varieties from H to M

honey fungus

Source: Leonhard Lenz, Armillaria in the Spandau Forst 04, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • yellow-brown, up to 10 cm in size
  • spherical at first, flattening with age
  • grows in clumps on dead and living wood
  • September to October
  • Low season according to the mushroom calendar: July, August and November
  • Toxic raw, edible when heated
  • only eat caps of young mushrooms

Judas ear

Judasohr (Auricularia), Source: Hirneola_auricula-judae_(xndr).jpg.webp: Svdmolen derivative work: Ak ccm (talk), Hirneola auricula-judae (xndr) cropped, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • reddish, very thin fruit body
  • about 4-10 cm wide
  • Can be found on deciduous trees all year round
  • High season runs from October to March
  • Likelihood of confusion: ear lobe fungus

Curly mother hen

Curled mother hen, curly hen (Sparassis crispa)
  • curly braid of yellowish tint
  • up to 40 cm tall
  • grows on pine wood
  • can be found in the same place for several years in a row
  • Low season: June and July
  • High season: August to November
  • Risk of confusion: broad-leaved mother hen (also edible)

March snail

Source: LukeEmski, Hygrophorus marzuolus 02, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • grey, 3 - 8 cm wide hat
  • lighter lamellae, with intermediate lamellae
  • grows on northern slopes, at altitudes between 300 and 1000 m
  • search in spring, from January to April
  • Likelihood of confusion: crack fungus-like snail (non-toxic)

May mushroom

Source: User:Strobilomyces, Calocybe gambosa 080420wb, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Cream-colored, 3-10 cm wide and 5-8 cm high
  • initially closed hat, later open, with rolled-up brim
  • Mushroom smells like cucumber
  • Grows on forest edges, but also in gardens
  • Short mushroom season from April to June
  • Risk of confusion: brick-red crack fungus, giant botrytis

chestnut bolete

Source: Dohduhdah, Mushroom-IMG 1484, Edited by Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
  • yellow stem, brown cap
  • 3 to 10 cm wide, up to 12 cm high
  • Main occurrence in coniferous forest
  • Mushroom season: June to November
  • Risk of confusion: with the edible porcini mushroom

Tip: This type of mushroom is very suitable for drying, so it can also be enjoyed outside of the season indicated in the mushroom calendar.

Mushroom varieties from P to T

parasol

  • light cap with brown spots, later becomes flat
  • usually more than 20 cm wide
  • Stem up to 40 cm high, tuberous at the bottom
  • raw it is poisonous!
  • Mushroom season lasts from July to November
  • search along the forest edges
  • Danger of confusion: saffron parasol, garden giant parasol

chanterelle

Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius)
  • orange-yellow mushroom, 2-10 cm wide
  • has more than 40 other names in this country
  • occurs in deciduous and coniferous forests
  • Collection time is June to October
  • Risk of confusion: Wrong chanterelle

velvet foot

Source: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, Flammulina velutipes (42284743332), Edited by Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
  • orange, about 5 cm wide hat
  • it is flattened and greasy
  • whitish-yellow lamellae, yellow-brown stem
  • grows near willows and poplars, also under snow
  • September to April
  • Danger of confusion: Poisonous skin

crested inkling

Ink Cap (Coprinus comatus)
  • Cap is 5-10 cm high and cylindrical
  • white with brownish scales
  • Mushroom season runs from May to November, but also March and April
  • grows along roadsides and in gardens
  • is rarely found in forests
  • Risk of confusion: the shape of the roller makes it unmistakable

Bread Stubble Mushroom

Source: H. Krisp, Bread stubble Hydnum repandum, Edited from Plantopedia, CC BY 3.0
  • Creamy white cap with spikes 3-8 cm wide and wavy
  • Found in deciduous and coniferous forests
  • Mushroom season: July to November
  • Danger of confusion: Bread poly, sheep poly

Morel

Morel (Morchella esculenta)
  • 3 - 10 cm high, hollow mushroom cap
  • usually round, sometimes pointed
  • honeycomb ribs
  • Coloring goes from light beige to brown and black
  • Stem is slightly lighter
  • found in mixed forests
  • according to the mushroom calendar, the mushroom season is short, only from April to May
  • Low season: February to March and June
  • Likelihood of confusion: Morel mushrooms

mushroom

common porcini mushroom, Boletus edulis
  • brown hat can grow up to 22 cm wide
  • Stem is max. 20 cm long, light brown and thicker towards the bottom
  • depending on the season and location, there will be 7 different species of porcini mushrooms
  • Porcini mushrooms grow under spruce trees
  • July to October (Summer Porcini Mushroom)
  • Likelihood of confusion: bile boletus

mutabilis

Source: Thomas Pruß, Stickschwammchen, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • approx. 4 cm wide and 5 cm high
  • semi-circular brown screen
  • scales protruding below the ring (important identification feature)
  • mostly found in deciduous forests
  • Collection period: April to November
  • Danger of confusion: poisonous häubling and softwood häubling

death trumpet

Source: Franck Hidvégi, Craterellus cornucopioides 3, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • 2-6 cm across, black cap, gray stem
  • Shape resembles a trumpet horn
  • gray outside, black inside
  • grows in deciduous forests
  • from August to November
  • Likelihood of confusion: Gray Leistling

Notice: According to the mushroom calendar, the mushroom season for this variety is limited to four months. But its use in the kitchen is possible all year round because it is dried. Fresh this mushroom is useless.

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