Helvella lacunosa, also known as the Fluted Black Elfin Saddle or simply the Pitted Shovel, comprises a stalk and a cap. The cap's width ranges from 2 to 5 cm and appears irregular or saddle-shaped, with a free edge in relation to the stalk. The cap typically contains 2-3 lobes and sports a dark, gray, or blackish color on its upper disk, while the lower side remains smooth and gray.
The stalk measures 2-5 cm in height and 1 to 1.5 cm in thickness, initially gray and darkening as it ages. Its surface displays grooves and folds, expanding downwards.
The mushroom's spores are predominantly white or colorless, featuring an elliptical shape with dimensions of 15-17*8-12 μm. Smooth spore walls house a single oil drop in each spore. A similar mushroom, the Helvella crispa or Curly Paddle, ranges in color from cream to beige.
This species grows on soil in both coniferous and deciduous forests, typically forming groups. Fruiting occurs during the summer or autumn and is widespread across Eurasia, North, and South America. It functions as both a saprotroph and mycorrhizal fungus.
For cultivation at home, it's advised to follow instructions for forest mycorrhizal mushrooms, ensuring the acquisition of quality mycelium. The mycelium is adaptable for sowing under nearly all deciduous tree species, including those found in gardens, following forest mushroom cultivation guidelines.
Instructions for intensive method wood-destroying mushroom cultivation using plant residues in bags:
- Prepare a substrate, either homogenous (e.g., straw alone) or a blend of multiple components (e.g., straw + hay + sawdust). Pour boiling water over the substrate.
- Allow the steamed substrate to naturally cool to a range of +20 to +30°C.
- Thoroughly mix well-squeezed mycelium (100 g per 40 kg of moistened substrate) into the substrate.
- Place the substrate-mycelium blend into transparent plastic bags, slightly compacting it before sealing the bags.
- Create several 3-5 cm cuts across the bag's surface to facilitate air exchange, completing the mushroom block.
- Position the blocks indoors or in a shaded garden area, preferably suspended.
- During the 4-5 week germination period, light is unnecessary. Initially, a furry texture appears, followed by a shift to a white or slightly yellowish color, forming a dense block.
- After 1.5-2 weeks, fruiting body rudiments emerge, requiring light exposure.
- Make cuts in the film at the rudiments' locations; fruiting occurs in waves over 2-3 weeks, with the first two waves yielding the greatest harvest.
- These time frames are indicative for oyster mushrooms; other species like shiitake may take around 4 months from sowing to the first mushrooms.
Instructions for extensive method wood-destroying mushroom cultivation on non-rotten deciduous wood:
- Use bars, logs, or cuts of varying sizes, preferably 30-40 cm long and 25 cm in diameter. Soak them in water for a week; freshly sawn wood might require only 1-2 days of soaking or none at all.
- Drill or carve holes in the wood, adding mycelium (100 g per 40 kg), then cover the holes with straw or seal them with a cotton/paper swab or other materials.
- The mycelium overgrowth period spans 4-7 months at temperatures between +7 to +27°C.
- Position the prepared wood in a shaded garden area or a well-ventilated space.
- Harvest 1-2 times in spring and autumn, with possible summer harvests under favorable climatic conditions.
Instructions for growing forest mushrooms on a personal plot under trees:
- Loosen the ground beneath a tree to create a depression of 15-20 cm based on root proximity to the soil surface.
- Evenly distribute mycelium over the loosened surface at a rate of 50 g per 1 m².
- Cover with a mixture of garden or forest soil and humus in equal parts, topping it with soil from the loosening.
- Planting can occur year-round under any tree species without natural obstacles.
- During dry periods, water frequently (10 liters per 1m²).
- Mushrooms typically appear in spring and autumn, with initial harvests possibly taking up to a year or sometimes 2-3 years. Initial yields may reach 350-500 g/m², while subsequent yields might reach 1.5-2.5 kg/m². The mycelium persists for many years while the tree remains alive.
- Annually, during hot or cold seasons (when mushrooms aren't growing), evenly spread humus and/or soil over the mushroom planting area at a rate of 5-6 kg/m².
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