After a few years of scratching our heads and wondering what set apart locations with abundant morels and locations that appeared perfect where none appeared, we think we have cracked the Morchella australiana code. To test that hypothesis we set out on an exercise walk within our 5km area in lockdown and proved our contention.
And I must say when people in the past said that these mushrooms were superbly tasty I now know just how amazing their flavour can be – well worth the effort and expensive asking price. Id argue the best mushroom species available wild picked in Victoria hands down.
We now have some amazing and prolific locations for this species.
Thanks Jonathon as always for the knowledge. Keen to know more about “the code”
The secret Order of Morchella
well this is a bit exciting….must try and crack this code on our next 5km walk too!
Haha – yes Selby delivers!
So will there be motel farms in Victoria?
Tough to cultivate unfortunately.
Hey mate great and informative article, just wondering what I should be looking for in morel spot, like near a water source, or what types of trees in the area or what kind of landscape. I am located around the north east Victorian high country Thanks mate!
You should be in luck around that area – try drier, sandier soils with granite and Greenhood orchids.
Thanks for the reply! We went out in the last week of September and didn’t really expect to find anything, tried one spot with no luck then went out to another spot which had native eucalyptus, granite, and dry infertile looking soil. We found some! Around 30 in total, there were quite a few old ones that we left to drop spores, but that was probably because we went in the last week of September so the season was coming to an end. We also found a few tiny fresh ones which was very unexpected. Do you know why they like it around orchids?
Great news! Glad to hear. Yeah im not really sure on the associations as our most recent spot didnt have orchids – maybe its soils or specific tree species (we think the later now).
Now I go back and have a look at photos there were no orchids in our spot either, but the soil was dry and sandy, there was quite a bit of burnt wood,there was some granite and there were also a few different species of eucalyptus trees around which I recognize by sight, but I don’t know the name of. Quite a few of the eucalyptus trees seemed smaller than usual which I have noticed in photos of other peoples spots as well. I think you are right about specific trees, it seems to fit in with what I have seen.
I read your article, nice to learn from down under, I am from Canada visiting daughter in blue mountain area. Just a note of precaution, there is a study in North America about picking morel in orchid, they might contain harmful pesticide from over the years. Just be careful.
Soo from Canada