In the eastern United States, chanterelles fruit from early spring through late summer. The length of the season is dependent on weather conditions. By autumn, they are done. In the western United States, chanterelle season is from September through February.
One of the next things we wanted the answer to was: when are chanterelle mushrooms in season?
Depending on your area that might vary, but July to September is prime chanterelle season. A chanterelle’s preferred habitat is in hardwood forests. These mushrooms are mycorrhizal, which means they form a symbiotic relationship with the roots of trees.
Another thing we wondered was, when is the best time to pick chanterelles?
Chanterelles grow best in moist environments when the weather isn’t too hot. July is a great month to pick, as it typically has the highest rainfall of the year. Rainfall has a big affect on how fast and how large mushrooms will grow.
Habitat Golden chanterelle–easily identified by their forked and wavy false gills. Chanterelles generally occur from late spring through late summer or early fall here in North Georgia. They love moisture, shade and lots of organic matter.
This begs the query “Can you grow chanterelles?”
Growing chanterelles is possible, but it’s a lot more difficult than other species like oyster mushrooms. They require the roots of specific species of trees and soil to really grow and thrive. And it can take several years after you innoculate the soil before you’ll get any mushrooms back. Instead, it’s best to go foraging for chanterelles.
What do chanterelles smell like?
Chanterelles are commonly found in white, yellow, or orange colors. Many species of chanterelles have a pleasant and fruity smell, similar to apricots. Their taste is a bit peppery. There are a few false mushrooms that look similar to chanterelles.
Are chanterelle mushrooms poisonous?
There’s only one poisonous chanterelle look alike, the Jack-O-Lantern mushroom (Omphalotus olearius). While the Jack-O-Lantern mushroom is, in fact, an orange mushroom, that’s about where the similarity ends.
What are the false gills of a chanterelle?
The false gills of a chanterelle are forked folds or wrinkles underneath the mushroom. These aren’t easily removable from the cap, and often look as if they melted on to the cap and step. They can’t be separated without tearing the mushroom itself. A chanterelle’s false gills run down the stem, referred to as being decurrent.