Czech mushroom hunting made easy: new map charts peak conditions

One of the Czech Republic's most popular pastimes has officially returned for the summer 2022 season. While mushroom-picking season in the country generally occurs from spring through autumn, peak conditions for mushroom growth typically occur from July through September each year.

In additional to the warmer summer weather, rain and humidity lead to peak conditions to picking mushrooms throughout Czech forests.

To help local pickers find the best time and location to search for mushrooms, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has launched a new map this year that charts peak conditions throughout the country.

The new map showcases locations in the country that feature the best conditions for picking mushrooms partially based on the country's API30 index, which tracks levels of soil saturation throughout the Czech Republic over the past thirty days.

The map also takes into account average temperatures over the past week to calculate the prime conditions for mushrooms to grow.

As of July 4, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute's new map, the best conditions for picking mushrooms were in south and central Bohemia, including locations around Prague.

While mushrooms grow in warm weather, extremely hot temperatures can lead to adverse conditions as higher heat levels cause faster evaporation of water from the soil. Rising temperatures in the Czech Republic over the past years have generally led to worse conditions for picking mushrooms.

According to the Institute, peak conditions for picking mushrooms occur during periods of warm weather and roughly ten days after heavy rainfall. Strong storms throughout the Czech Republic this week could see some increased mushroom growth by next weekend in local forests.

In addition to the mushroom map, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute also publishes maps that chart other local phenomena influenced by weather conditions, including levels of ticks, mosquitoes, allergy-inducing pollens, and more.

Foraging for fungi has long been a popular pastime in the Czech Republic, and mushrooms feature in many of the country's traditional dishes.

Read more about picking mushrooms in Czech forests here, and make sure you find the right fungi with the help of this handy smartphone app.