Are there mushrooms in the Saratov region? Yes, and in this article we will tell which ones are edible.
Mushroom reserves of the region
The Saratov region is located in the steppe and forest-steppe zones, which are separated by the mighty Volga. Forests occupy not very large areas (not more than 5%) of the total territory of the region. They are mainly located in the northwest, in the right-bank part. Mostly they are concentrated in the floodplains of the rivers, as well as in the form of artificially grown forest plantations. They are made up of broad-leaved trees (aspen, oak, maple, linden, birch, etc.).
The climate and geographical location of the Saratov region determine the species composition of mushroom resources. In comparison with the more northern regions of our country or with the regions of Siberia and the Urals, they are not so diverse.
What mushrooms are found in the Saratov region?
More than two thousand species of mushrooms grow on this territory. About one hundred and fifty of them are edible. However, not more than twenty species are popular among the local population, since some edible specimens popular in the southern regions of Russia (summer mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, morels, umbrellas), local lovers of "silent hunting" do not consider mushrooms at all and therefore they simply do not collect them.
Local mushroom pickers collect only 50-55 species. This number includes those that are listed in the Red Book. And those in the Saratov region, there are about 20 species. True, not all of them are edible.
Mushroom Features
The number of mushrooms growing in this area is affected by the weather characteristics of this region. Barren years often happen due to lack of moisture and drought. Naturally, this does not contribute to the release of mushrooms. 2016 was especially generous with the harvest. In the vicinity of Saratov mushroom pickers were picking mushrooms, boletus, mushrooms, butterflies, porcini mushrooms. Pleased with a good harvest birch groves in the Petrovsky district and near the village of Big Melik.
It is known that edible mushrooms in the Saratov region (as, indeed, in any other territory) like hot, rainy weather. Therefore, the best time to collect them is considered autumn (from the last decade of August to the end of October - until the first frost). In favorable weather, you can pick mushrooms from late May to early June.
Experienced mushroom pickers know that warm nights and fog are signs of the start of the season. In the spring and almost all summer, when there is a precipitation of oil, boletus and porcini mushrooms of the Saratov region please with a generous harvest.
When to pick mushrooms?
Young mushrooms are recommended to be collected two to three days after the rain. During such a short mushroom season for the weekend, perhaps, only the lazy one does not leave for the forest. Therefore, if you want to bring home a basket of fragrant mushrooms, go after them in the middle of the week.
Popular mushrooms
More often than others in the forests of the Saratov region can be found:
- boletus;
- White mushrooms;
- breasts;
- boletus;
- saffron mushrooms;
- chanterelles;
- oily;
- honey mushrooms;
- meadow champignons;
- various types of russula, etc.
Ceps of the Saratov region have several varieties:
- Dubovik (locals often call it a dupe);
- white summer;
- boletus;
- birch.
In size, they are all similar (15-20 cm), have a dense, non-darkening pulp when cooking. At the same time, ceps have external differences: color, hat shape, roundness of the legs. A white summer one, for example, differs from a boletus with a lighter convex, spherical hat. The birch porcini mushroom has a “headdress” of light yellow color, and the leg is elongated. The slightly convex cap of the boletus is painted in a reddish-brown color. The mushroom has a bright yellowish mesh pattern on a tuberous pedicle. The white summer legs, especially at the base, are thicker. In the old pine forests, you can collect porcini mushrooms with a dark red-brown, classic hat color.
As you know, saffron mushrooms love sandy soils, so they should be sent to the forests of the Bazarno-Karabulak and Baltai districts, in the floodplain of the Khoper River. Oil mushrooms - mushrooms growing in the Saratov region (including the present oleracea, larch, granular), are common in mixed and pine forests. These mushrooms, beloved by many, grow in numerous groups, after prolonged and heavy rains they come together three or four times per season, but, unfortunately, they are quickly affected by worms. You can meet them before the beginning of November, as well as boletus and honey mushrooms.
Of course, we presented you with a description of not all edible mushrooms of the Saratov region, but only the most popular among the local population. In the forests there are other edible species. But most mushroom pickers try to collect some specific variety. It depends largely on taste preferences. In addition, this solution helps to avoid poisoning. Mushrooms of the Saratov region of the same species, which grow in different areas, may have a different smell, the color of the hat and legs. To avoid mistakes during their collection, it is necessary to study the description and photos in the reference books for mushroom pickers.
Where to pick mushrooms in the Saratov region?
At the end of summer, thousands of lovers of “silent hunting” take spacious backpacks, arm themselves with wicker baskets and go on a “hunt”. For those who are just going to join this fascinating and, it must be said, useful activity, we presented below a map of the mushroom places of the region.
Experienced mushroom pickers know that edible mushrooms in the Saratov region most often grow in sunny, elevated places, forest edges well warmed up by the sun, blown pine forests, in rare aspen forests, light oak and birch groves, on old forest paths. The map shows the areas where mushrooms most often go to the surface of the soil en masse. This is the Engels district near Lake Tin-Zin, Marksovsky near the village of Zvonarevka, Krasnoarmeysky in the vicinity of the village of Ivanteyevka, Saratov near the village of Popovka. According to the results of 2016, we can say that the Tatishchevsky, Petrovsky, Baltic and Bazarno-Karabulaksky districts belong to the mushroom.
