Have you ever panicked and uttered, “what are the tiny mushrooms growing in my polytunnel?” With the extensive list of mushroom varieties, it’s almost impossible to immediately tell the small mushrooms in your polytunnel. At the same time, correct identification is unnecessary because it won’t harm your plants.
However, it’s best not to consume any mushroom you see as they could be poisonous. It’s typical for a UK gardener to feel disturbed seeing mushrooms in the ground, mulch, or pots of the polytunnel. But since mushroom cultivation as a food source is possible, there shouldn’t be any surprise to see these fungi growing in your polytunnel amongst the crops.
Identifying What Are The Tiny Mushrooms Growing In My Polytunnel
According to David Fischer, author of Edible Wild Mushrooms of North America: A Field-to-kitchen Guide, many mushrooms can grow indoors, mulch beds, or lawns. Correctly identifying the tiny or small ones growing in your polytunnel would be impossible, so below are the types of mushrooms you can expect in the polytunnel conditions.
Common mushrooms that grow indoors
A typical small mushroom that grows indoors is Leucocoprinus birnbaumii. You might also see it in your pots in the polytunnel, thus, giving it the name flowerpot parasol and plant pot dapperling. If you live in a temperate region of the United Kingdom, you have a higher chance of seeing this mushroom.
Common mushrooms that grow in mulch beds
The mulch beds are also prone to having Clitocybe nuda, Coprinus atramentarius, Coprinus micaceus, and Lepiota cepaestipes. The smallest ones are the last two, and only the last one can cause short-term gastrointestinal symptoms. You can spot them in the polytunnel when the climate is warm.
Common mushrooms that grow on lawns
Agaricus campestris and Agaricus placomyces are common mushrooms that grow on lawns or the ground of the polytunnel. While these fungi aren’t tiny as their caps measure 4 to 7 inches wide, it’s not surprising to see them growing in ideal conditions like the previous examples. They are also common in the Rocky Mountains of western North America.
Why Do Mushrooms Grow In The Polytunnel?
There are many potential reasons why you see mushrooms growing in your polytunnel. For starters, in the UK, you might use potting soil contaminated with fungus, and the conditions in your polytunnel are ideal for its growth. The use of pots is why you see mushrooms in your pots, especially when the environment is cold, humid, and moist.
But what about the mushrooms that grow in your raised beds in the polytunnel? It might be because of the organic matter in the bed, contamination with potting soil, airborne movement, or from your clothing. Overwatering can also cause mushroom growth in raised beds because the area becomes moist and humid.
Are Mushrooms Bad For The Polytunnel?
Mushrooms are fungi, and seeing them in the polytunnel will naturally make anyone worried. However, the good news is that mushrooms are not bad for the polytunnel. They are harmless to your plants and even offer benefits for them.
For example, they improve the quality of the soil because they help with its nutrient content. Unlike weeds, mushrooms won’t compete for the nutrients in the ground. Instead, they add compost by decomposing the organic matter in the soil.
You can think of the mushrooms and plants having a symbiotic relationship. They provide nutrients and increase the plant roots’ surface area, and the plants will produce sugars as fungi food. However, do note that there are still harmful fungi in the polytunnel.
Mushrooms are good fungi, while the white powdery mould is an example of a harmful fungus that can be detrimental for your plants. Overall, mushrooms aren’t bad for your plants, but it’s better to get rid of them since they can make the polytunnel unsightly. Additionally, other human beings and pets may consume mushrooms, which can be harmful as some are very toxic.
How To Control Mushrooms In The Polytunnel
As mentioned earlier, overwatering is a leading cause of mushroom growth in the polytunnel. Remember that water encourages mushrooms to grow because they thrive best in moist and humid environments. At the same time, be aware of contaminating your potting soil or mulch beds since mushrooms can also be airborne or transferred via clothing.
It can be hard to remove mature mushrooms because they can release more spores. Therefore, you can only remove small mushroom caps or use fungicide in the polytunnel. Lastly, ensure proper ventilation and air circulation in the polytunnel to prevent fungal growth.
Conclusion
The thought of fungi growing in your polytunnel is unappealing. You might end up contemplating what are the tiny mushrooms growing in my polytunnel and immediately search for its species. However, there are so many mushrooms, so identifying what you see correctly is tricky.
A typical small mushroom that grows indoors is the Leucocoprinus birnbaumii. Other species may also thrive in the polytunnel, given that the optimal growing conditions are available. The good news is different from being unsightly, and mushrooms aren’t bad for your plants.
Be aware of the potting soil you’ll use, as this can cause contamination in the polytunnel. Overwatering and poor air circulation are two factors that can also support mushroom growth.