Mushroom Magic

I was going to call this blog post 'Magic Mushrooms', but thought better of it! There is something magical though about mushrooms and how they interact with other plants.

The aptly named Cracked Cap Mushroom Agrocybe dura has made an appearance on several of the allotments recently. It's commonly found on wood bark chippings, which some people have used to create paths on their plots. Before you pick some, it's not palatable (it has an unpleasant taste and texture), but I couldn't find any reference to it being poisonous either.

The largest part of a mushroom is called the mycelium, which grows underground. The mycelium is an important source of food for many soil invertebrates, so will improve the health of your soil. Mycelium and other fungi occurring naturally in the soil form a mutually beneficial relationship with plant roots - improving the water and nutrient absorption. This association is called mycorrhiza.

Soil which can support mushrooms will also contain mycorrhizal fungi so if you see mushrooms on your plot, be happy and leave them to grow.

Submitted by Tigger