Giant mushrooms are popping up in Polish forests. "Mutants are appearing."

Mushroom pickers boast about their finds, posting photos on social media. While not every person who ventures into the forest stumbles upon giant kites or kilogram-sized boletus, such impressive specimens are not isolated occurrences. How do such unusual specimens come about? The answer is quite simple.

"A massive mushroom boom is starting in the forests. Mutants are appearing because people haven't been collecting mushrooms regularly. It's been dry now, and for the mycelium to fruit, it needs to be moist. They were growing slower," said mushroom expert Justyn Kołek in an interview with o2.pl. He added that finding large specimens is a natural phenomenon.

"Over 20 years ago, I found a boletus that weighed two kilograms. Over the years, I haven't been able to find one, but I've found kilogram-sized specimens," recalled Justyn Kołek. "It's worth remembering that this isn't a common occurrence. You won't find several of that size nearby," he added. The expert also appealed for caution when picking mushrooms. "There are nearly 7,500 mushrooms in Poland. You have to be careful, especially with children, because some are poisonous, and they grow in parks and gardens. Homesick mushroom pickers might not pay attention to what they're picking," he warned.

A set of rules for conscious mushroom picking has appeared on the government website as part of environmental education.

1. Only pick mushrooms that you are absolutely sure are edible.
2. Only collect fully mature/developed mushrooms that are easy to identify – young fruiting bodies without clear species characteristics are a common cause of confusion.
3. Do not pick or destroy mushrooms that are protected by law.
4. It is best to cut the mushrooms with a sharp knife right at the ground level and then cover them with mulch – this will allow more mushrooms to grow in that place.
5. Never destroy mushrooms you do not collect – they can be valuable food for many animal species.
6. Collect mushrooms in wicker baskets or air-permeable containers – plastic bags cause the mushrooms to overcook and accelerate their spoilage.
7. Do not pick mushrooms in prohibited places, such as reserves and national parks, forest plantations up to 4 meters high or military lands.
8. Do not pick mushrooms that grow in ditches, on the edge of forests and in other places that may be a concentration of waste and pollution.
9. Always maintain peace and quiet in the forest – it is home to many animals, in the forest you are the guest.
10. If you see garbage in the forest, take it with you.

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