While the mountains are a few weeks ahead, with the Ariège sector in the lead, the annual mushroom picking peak will not begin until the end of the month in the Gers plains. But due to the rainfall of the last few days, the specialists are full of hope for this year's pig harvest.
Rain doesn't make many people happy in September… Except for mushroom pickers. In the Gers, the season won't start until the end of the month, but porcini mushroom researchers are already tapping their feet: “In the plains, the mycological season is autumn. In the mountains, it's a little earlier. We've made outings in the mountains. It was better than last year, but still medium,” testifies Jacques Routier, president of the Gascon Mycology Society.
A few weeks before the fateful date, the chairman of the Gers association has hopes for the 2024 harvest: “It looked good because it rained a lot in June, it started again at the end of August and now: it's at this 'This is the moment'.” it must rain We'll start going out in two weeks,” he explains.
It must be said that after a particularly dry year in 2023, mushroom lovers were left hungry: “Last summer, there were periods when everywhere was dry, while this year, it was never like that.”
A good harvest of chanterelles as a preamble
If there is hope, the specialists would like a little more rain to ensure growth: “As long as the trees are thirsty, the fungi give them water. In the autumn, when the trees no longer need water, the fungi keep it all to themselves and that is where they are currently growing, it should fall between 50 and 100 mm within a day or two to be sure to have a fungus outbreak .
Among the most common mushrooms in the autumn department, we find the pink porcini mushrooms, which take refuge under the oaks, or the Bordeaux porcini mushrooms. They will follow the chanterelles, which were harvested until mid-July: “The season was good because from the end of May to the beginning of July, a lot of chanterelles gathered in the Gers”, rejoices Jacques Routier.
Don't take risks
With the arrival of peak harvesting season, vigilance for poisonous species must be increased, especially for beginners. If in doubt, Jacques Routier advises not to take any risks: “Of course, go to the helplines in Auch, the easiest thing is to train all our members.
The Gascon Society of Mycology has 45 member families and is located on rue Gambetta in Auch. Currently, there is a guard service every Thursday from 5pm, but in two weeks, this day will change to Tuesday. A way to mark the start of mushroom picking in the Gers.