An extraordinary mushroom season is starting, which could be the best in recent years.

BarcelonaAutumn is synonymous with mushrooms, and now that the new season has officially arrived—specifically, on September 22nd—the question is clear: will we have a good season? Well, everything seems to indicate that this year could be by far the best in recent years. The rains that have been falling since spring in much of the country and the storms in late August and September have meant that, despite the intense summer heat, the ground is quite moist and conducive to mushroom growth in many wooded areas. In fact, at mid- and high altitudes in several parts of the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, mushrooms have been harvested in baskets for days now. Now all that's left is for autumn to bring the typical rainfall of the season.

"The way we've had spring and summer, everything points to the fact that, if the weather is as usual, this mushroom season could be extraordinary," explains Daniel Siscart, biologist and mycologist. However, Siscart reminds us that unforeseen events can always upset the forecasts, such as strong winds or early cold snaps. But right now, the "necessary conditions" exist for proper mushroom development. "This season, we're following the pattern that was common ten or fifteen years ago; the problem is that we've forgotten that this is normal, and not what we've experienced recently with the drought and the climate crisis," the mycologist points out.

First harvests in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees

The late-summer storms have left fairly generous amounts of rain in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, allowing for a good start to the season at mid- and high altitudes. The first mushrooms to emerge were the classic ones that don't grow on tree roots, but on dead organic matter, such as the apaga or the wild button mushroom. What's new this year is that, thanks to the lower temperatures experienced during part of September in the Pyrenees, chanterelle mushrooms and some camagrocs, typically mid-season mushrooms, have already begun to emerge.

However, rainfall has been erratic, and not all of the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees enjoy the same conditions. The westernmost part is the most benefited, especially from 1,300 or 1,400 meters upwards. "In the coming weeks, we'd need episodes of general rainfall, something we haven't had so far," says Siscart. In fact, the mushroom season usually starts early in the Transversal mountain range and in Montseny, but so far, rainfall has not been "sufficiently abundant or constant" in these areas, the mycologist points out.

How the mushroom season will evolve

Over the next few weeks, mushrooms should also begin to appear at lower altitudes in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees. Beyond the species mentioned above, the other mushrooms that begin to appear in the Pyrenees at this time of year are those that experience the warmest temperatures, such as chanterelles, capers, and pinetillos.

As the season progresses, mushrooms will also begin to reach inland Catalonia. And, according to Siscart, they will appear between October and November in the pre-coastal region. Therefore, the season will extend from the Pyrenees until reaching the coast in December, the last area of the country to see mushrooms in its forests.

During the peak of the season, species such as chanterelles, weeping mushrooms, amanitas (like the comb mushrooms), and butterfly mushrooms will be common. And the last mushrooms to emerge will be the cold ones, such as the friolero, the reniega, or the ox tongue.

Harvesting mushrooms without cutting down the forest

Given such favorable conditions, and considering that Catalonia is a nation of mushroom pickers, many people are sure to head to the forests to pick mushrooms. Therefore, it's very important to take care of our environment so that our footprint doesn't damage ecosystems. "We don't just pick up the axe and leave the forest cleared; we only pick the mushrooms we want to eat or study, being careful with the subsoil," Siscart suggests.

In this sense, the mycologist recommends enjoying and contemplating the mushrooms rather than picking them. "There are mushrooms that look like works of art, whether we eat them or not, with original structures and beautiful colors; we can take photos or identify species without touching or harvesting the mushrooms," Siscart explains. "I would go more with a naturalist spirit, as if we were watching birds, not eating or touching them, but enjoying them," he concludes.

The impact of the climate crisis

The historic drought has ended, but its effects are still being felt, and there are even places where the water deficit has not yet been balanced. Holm oak and pine forests across the country have suffered the death of thousands of trees, as well as the death of fungi that facilitated the growth of mushrooms.

Natural parks such as Sant Llorenç del Munt and Obac, as well as forests in areas such as Priorat, the Ebro, and Solsonès, have been particularly affected by these circumstances, and fewer mushrooms are expected this year, according to Siscart. And everything indicates that, with the climate crisis, Catalonia will have increasingly arid land in the coming years.