The forest doesn't produce mushrooms only in autumn: it simply changes what it offers, season after season. Knowing the complete calendar means never returning empty-handed, even outside the peak of the porcini mushrooms.
Spring: blackthorns and first releases
Between March and May the forest slowly awakens. The blackthorn is typical of this period, together with some other early species. It is not the season of large numbers, but it is a good time to regain confidence with the forest after the winter.
Summer: summer porcini mushrooms, ovoli and cockerels
From June to August the summer porcini mushroom and the good ovolo arrive (Amanita caesarea) in the warm oak and chestnut woods, and the chanterelles/chanterelles, which with the right humidity can appear in abundance for weeks.
Autumn: the peak of the season
September-November is the time of greatest variety: the porcini mushrooms are accompanied by tacks, trumpets of the dead and drumsticks. It is also the period in which multiple species coexist in the same forest, with more margin for choice.
Winter: what remains
Between December and February the search narrows: some species resistant to the cold, such as the mumps, remain available in the more sheltered woods. It is the quietest season, good for planning the next one.
Summary table by species
| Species | Months | Environment |
|---|---|---|
| Blackthorn | Mar–May | Clearings, forest edges |
| Summer porcini mushroom | June–July | Chestnut groves, oak groves |
| Good egg | Jul–Sep | Oak groves, warm chestnut groves |
| Cockerel/chanterelle | Jun–Oct | Mixed woods, moss |
| Autumnal porcini mushroom | Sep–Nov | Beech, fir, chestnut trees |
| Nail | Sep–Dec | Stumps and trunks |
