Do mushrooms do lots of harm?

[frontiergirl53]

ANOTHER mass wave of mushrooms this season. Could I just let them grow along with the other plants till they die? I think the problem is Miracle grow soil. The only mushrooms I have come from that soil. The plants that have it are Rhubarb, asparagus, tomatoes, pumpkins, and it hasn't reached the herb part of my garden, thank goodness. My gardening buddy says to just let them grow, it wont hurt a thing. I don't think so. I'm probably going to buy some organic mushroom control if I can find some. What are your guy's thoughts?

 

[seedcorn]

If edible, send to me.....

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

The mushrooms will do as much harm as the soil itself. Nothing to worry about. All that they do is break down organic material in the soil and put trace minerals and things back into the soil as they do so.

I had millions of Inky Caps in the garden last year and nothing special happened, I thought that they made the garden a little bit more interesting.

 

[Smart Red]

Mushrooms are decomposers. That is, they -- along with other organisms -- help dead matter turn into rich, humus-y soil. The mushroom spores will gradually die out without new matter, but will do no damage to your plants or soil. If you want to remove them, that's fine, but there is no problem letting them do their work.

 

[Nyboy]

Mushroom question is there any mushroom in the USA that is toxic enough to kill a child? Sorry about Hijack

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Mushroom question is there any mushroom in the USA that is toxic enough to kill a child? Sorry about Hijack

I don't know of any that are toxic enough to kill a child, but then again I'm not an expert. There are thousands of species out there, so it's very likely that there could be at least one out there. You might want to go to a survival/mushrooming forum and ask if you really want to find out.

Inky Caps are edible if prepared right (not all that good tasting) but can kill if you eat them with alcohol. Another one of their names is "Tippler's Bane."

Fly Anamita mushrooms are generally considered toxic but can be rendered edible if prepared right. They do have very powerful hallucinogenic properties even when prepared and are used as a drug in Eurasia.

Any sort of Stinkhorn mushroom I would stay away from, even though I'm not sure whether or not they're poisonous or edible.

Again, go to an expert. Mushrooms are something that you want to be cautious with if you are considering eating them. It's probably best to teach your kids not to eat them

 

[Nyboy]

Thanks I remember reading a story in school. During the civil war. A northern wounded soldier ended up at a girls school. They first helped him then killed him by feeding mushrooms to him. Anyone know what book that's from?

 

[Smart Red]

Does this sound right? Titled A Painted Devil, this novel written by Thomas P. Cullinan, was made into The Beguiled -- a 1971 American drama directed by Don Siegel -- starring Clint Eastwood and Geraldine Page.

 

[Nyboy]

Thank you Red!!

 

[bobm]

There are MANY mushrooms that are very poisonous and can and do kill children as well as adults. There are quite a few that cause psychodelic episodes so some Indian tribes use them in ceramonies and / or have quest visions. One has to be knowledgeable of what mushrooms are safe to eat or pay the price. If in doubt don't eat them.