Mycologist Dyakov gave tips on mushroom foraging in September.

      September 8, 2025 09:10

      [225]

      Society

      Mushroom pickers heading out in search of the forest’s gifts can expect a rich haul, since almost half of our region’s territory is covered by forests. The northern part of the region proved especially bountiful — residents of Nizhny Novgorod note that the most “catch” can be gathered in the Borsky and Semyonovsky districts.

      According to mycologist Maxim Dyakov, the most interesting mushrooms are associated with trees: they can grow on wood, form symbiotic relationships with trees (mycorrhiza), or feed on the forest litter. Therefore it is best to collect mushrooms in the forest itself.

      Fungi feed osmotrophically, absorbing substances across the entire surface of the mycelium. If the substrate on which they grow contains undesirable substances such as heavy metals, radionuclides, or pesticide residues, their concentration will be higher in the fruiting bodies. Fungi not only absorb these substances but also accumulate them. Therefore mushrooms should only be collected in environmentally clean areas.

      In a conversation with the TV channel "360", Maxim Dyakov also warned that old mushrooms quickly begin to rot, so you should only pick firm, young mushrooms.

      In addition, to stop the decomposition of complex organic matter, mushrooms are recommended to be either boiled for three to five minutes, frozen, or dried immediately. Otherwise the rich compounds in the mushrooms will begin to break down, bacteria will settle on them, and this can lead to negative consequences.

      It is important to remember that among mushrooms there are many poisonous species with various toxins that can be very dangerous. Fatal outcomes from mushroom poisoning are still possible. Therefore you should only pick mushrooms that you know for certain are edible. If in doubt, it is better not to take the risk.

      It is best to go mushroom foraging with experienced pickers who will help you avoid mistakes and teach you to distinguish edible mushrooms from inedible ones.

      September is the most favorable period for mushroom pickers in the Nizhny Novgorod region. At this time you can find almost all species of mushrooms except the spring ones. Currently porcini (boletus), aspen boletes, birch boletes, slippery jacks, as well as autumn species such as milk mushrooms, saffron milk caps, and honey mushrooms are growing actively. This is the ideal time for lovers of mushroom foraging, especially if the weather is warm and the forest litter remains moist.

      NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay informed about major events, exclusive materials, and timely updates.

      Copyright © 1999–2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When republishing, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is required. This resource may contain 18+ materials.