Giant Puffball?

[peanut]

I think it is, I mean, it looks and feels like it is, do you think I have a Giant Puffball growing in my garden?

[Plot70]

How big is it.
I once found one back in the 1970s.

[peanut]

How big is it.
I once found one back in the 1970s.

It's 6 inches wide at the moment

[Peteyd]

It certainly looks like it... BUT... Please don't eat it unless you're absolutely sure. there are a couple of mushrooms which look similar to puffballs. a good website to check out is https://www.wildfooduk.com/articles/the-puffballs/

if it is though, they do make very good eating!

[peanut]

It certainly looks like it... BUT... Please don't eat it unless you're absolutely sure. there are a couple of mushrooms which look similar to puffballs. a good website to check out is https://www.wildfooduk.com/articles/the-puffballs/

if it is though, they do make very good eating!

Thank you Peteyd, I've had a good look online and in my fungi/mushroom book and I am pretty sure it must be, I had some much smaller ones a couple of years ago and now this single much larger one. I'm not a big mushroom fan, so will probably leave it in the hope that I might get many more in years to come to give to people.

[ameno]

It certainly looks like it... BUT... Please don't eat it unless you're absolutely sure. there are a couple of mushrooms which look similar to puffballs. a good website to check out is https://www.wildfooduk.com/articles/the-puffballs/

if it is though, they do make very good eating!

At that size, there's nothing else it could be but a giant puffball. All of the potential lookalikes grow to no more than a couple of inches across (potentially up to three for an earthball).

[mothhawk]

I remember finding one in a field years ago that was literally as big as a football. In fact from a distance I thought it was an abandoned football. I'm not keen on mushroomy things, so I left it be. My grandad loved them fried with bacon.

edit - sliced first, of course

[peanut]

Oh my goodness!
I just popped down the garden and my Giant Puffball is now living up to its name. I didn't have a tape measure or camera with me but I'm guessing it's about 10 inches across now.
I am so tempted to eat it just because it's there

[mothhawk]

Probably past its best and going to seed - or spores - that's why they're called puffballs. As they grow the inside becomes a hollow space filled with spores so if you step on them they pop and a huge cloud of brown "smoke" puffs out.

[peanut]

Then I shall stick with my original plan and fingers crossed I might get another one, or maybe two next year if I am lucky