Morel and weather of april 2012

You have probably noticed, after a dry, sunny and hot, we have, for about a week, a cloudy, sometimes rainy and unusually cold, with some frost at night.

What are then the consequences for the growth of our precious morels?

The first in my area, but not least, is the lack of growth for the moment of morels with rounded cap, the famous Morchella esculenta, and the lack of growth of bell morel, Verpa conica.

Every growth is so far stopped ? No, but cold and wet, and this is the second result, give us rather clear morels, because of the lack of light and slow down the growth.

Young clear morel, Morchella elata, which grows during cool, wet and sunless.

On the left, the image was taken on April 10, the right photo was taken on April 16. The slowdown of growth is evident.

Two morels, Morchella elata, photographed April 10, 2012.

The same morels photographed April 16, 2012.

The third consequence might be feared, it is the end of the season. The growth of young morels belies this hypothesis. Slightly larger than continue to grow well without premature aging.

Big morel, Morchella elata, about 15 cm which makes good use of moisture.

Few days with the sun, even without record temperatures will sufficient to accelerate the growth. The April sun heats a lot. Morels sheltered from the wind will take the sunshine and a significant increase in ground temperature at least sunbeam.