Polish forests see start of mushroom season with prized boletus finds

Mayor Marcin Piszczek of Jędrzejów posted on Facebook after a multi‑hour walk on Corpus Christi, showing photos of several boletus (borowik) mushrooms he collected in the Wodzisław municipal forest under damp spruce trees. He announced that the mushroom season, especially for prized boletus, officially opens on this day.

Across Poland, June marks the beginning of the broader mushroom season. The first chanterelles (kurki) and “hare’s ear” mushrooms (podgrzybki zajączki) are now appearing, especially in pine, spruce, oak and beech forests with acidic, moss‑covered soils. Experts advise collectors to pick only well‑identified specimens, use a knife to cut them at ground level, avoid damaging the mycelium and leave the smallest mushrooms to mature. Proper baskets and avoiding plastic bags help preserve flavor and protect the forest ecosystem.