Not a Fun-gi to be with!

[peach_dixie_the]

Now then,
I am just starting my first year growing in my nice new shiny polytunnel. I have 5 raised beds in there. I have planted up one bed with onions, beets, garlics & spring onions. They have been in for several weeks now and things are looking promising!
One problem though, I have got issues with fungi growing in the bed and they don't look like the edible or magic type (apparently).
I prepared the beds by digging in some well rotted horse muck, but I did the same with all 5 and it is only happening in this one bed. Could it be the climate in the tunnel making them grow? Or a combination of that and the muck?
My main concern is for the plants growing in there, they are all coming on really well, but may this mean that its not safe to eat?
Any help would be much appreciated.

[chris]

What does the fungi look like? Is it humid in the tunnel? If you've had recent warm weather it may be... are you venting it at the moment?

[peach_dixie_the]

I suppose it is a little humid. It has been getting really warm in there recently, got upto 34°c the other day!
I have just installed some windows so that I can get a bit of breeze blowing through there.
Its just strange how it has done it just one of the 5 beds?

[teakdesk]

The "fungi" that you see are actually the fruits of the fungus, which grows underground.

These fruits produce spores that germinate into completely new fungi.

I believe that the fungus produces its fruits when it feels threatened and is worried it may die.


I don't get worried when I see the fruits as I believe it is showing that the fungus is not finding life easy and could die soon. Just take off the fruits before they drop their spores.



.

[peach_dixie_the]

Thats good advise! Thankyou. I will go and set to and get them all picked out this evening. Hopefully they won't start growing in my other beds as well!

[Minamoo]

I wouldn't worry about the mushrooms if I was you. I would be quite happy if I saw mushrooms growing in my beds regardless of whether or not they were edible. This is because mushrooms are vital in the ecosystem, they are one of the few things that can break down the lignin that forms trees and you will find mushroom mycelium in your leaf mold or compost heap if you look properly. Mushrooms are one of the most efficient rubbish disposers in nature and are working on digesting the manure you put down. It can also form micorhizal relationships with the roots of plants. They are very good at drawing certain minerals and trace elements from the soil and they swap with the plants whose roots they grow around so both of them actually grow much better. I wouldn't bother trying to pick them all off. They will spread their spores, then die. The spores are very unlikely to grow into more mushrooms and even so, it will take time. Spores of mushrooms aren't like the seeds of plants that have good germination rates. Mushrooms release hundreds and thousands of spores and only grow in very particular circumstances. Unless of course you have honey fungus. In which case picking off the button mushrooms before they drop their spores (and eating them) is a good idea. They don't need any more help to colonise the world!