Boletus question

Dear boletophiles, do any of you know if there are multiple crops of boletus to be had throughout the season, or do they "flower" once and then sit tight until next year?

Oh alas the  Boletus tend to fruit only once a season. The coastal Boletus are generally the first up and the first gone. The fruiting can last several weeks or longer weather permitting. Typically lower elevations fruit first than higher elevations, and Northern Ca to south (generally Monterey county is the last to fruit) The good news is there will be fruitings of other desirable Boletus in the Sierras right after the snow melt and then again if there are good thunder storms in the fall. Right after snow melt can be a good time for the elusive Morels as well as the Boletus. Throw in a chance for some Agaricus and you have a good pot luck. Check out the local mushroom groups. There is one in SF and one in Santa Cruz (Fungus Federation) I think there is one in Sonoma as well. They all do local forays which is a good chance to meet up with others and hunt for your desired species. Not quite as much fun as fishing as they tend to not fight once you have got a hold on them.

But, fruiting is "zonal" according to rainfall & possibly other stuff.
So you can have zones fruiting over many months...???...
I seem to have encountered them from Spring thru Fall especially in Oregon.

Judd

Thanks for the tips guys. I knew that different zones fruit at different times, but I wondered if it was worth going back to my new honey hole more than once in a season. I guess not.

There could be reason to go back. There are often fruitings of other edibles in the same areas (they like the same trees). One that comes to mind is candy caps (lactarius fragilis). These little guys can make a great dish. One of the best Sturgeon dishes my wife and I have had was in Mendocino at a $$$  place. The dish was pan fried Sturgeon placed in a light sauce flavored with dried candy caps. You should have a little Sturgeon left. Other things to look for would be Chanterelles (golden, white, winter, craterellus) Try checking them out online or the bible Mushrooms Demystified by David Aurora.

We're getting Black Chantrelles (sp?) now here in Mendo.

Aha! Then we might go chanterelle hunting this weekend. We actually found a couple where we got the boletus before christmas. I love chanterelles!

Look for what my wife calls black holes,clumps of black trupets. They sould be a dull dark grey with no gills and somewhat trumpet shaped (go figure). They tend to hang out around oaks and other hardwoods. If you find small ones mark the spot in your mind and go back in a week or two as they are slow growing. Post photos if you need help with an ID. When in doubt-throw it out!