Morchella elata / Morchella elata — an edible mushroom of the genus Morchella in the family Morchellaceae. Morchella elata externally resembles Morchella conica. It differs by a darker color and larger fruiting body (apothecia) (5-15 cm, up to 25-30 cm tall). The cap part is narrow, conical, 4-10 cm tall and 3-5 cm wide. The surface is covered with approximately triangular cells, bordered by more or less parallel vertical narrow folds. The cells are olive-brown, and in mature mushrooms — brown or black-brown; the septa may be olive-yellow; the mushroom's color darkens with age. The stem part is cylindrical, granular, 5-15 cm tall and 3-4 cm thick, at the top nearly equal in diameter to the cap. In young mushrooms, the stem is whitish, later yellowish or ochre.
Fruiting bodies of this mushroom develop in April — May (rarely June). Morchella elata is rare and occurs in small quantities. It grows on soil in coniferous and deciduous forests, often on grassy clearings and forest edges, in gardens and vegetable patches. It is found in mountains.
Used in boiled and fried forms (after boiling). Very tasty and tender, especially when fried with onions and sour cream.
Cultivation of Morchella elata on a garden plot: choose a slightly shaded, moist area, avoiding direct sunlight. It is preferable to select a location under apple trees. If the plot is not shaded, construct a canopy to protect from sun and wind. Remove weeds and grass from an area of 1 m2, remove the topsoil layer 15 cm thick. Mix 65% top (brown) peat, 30% wood ash (paper, cardboard, straw ash), 5% gypsum or plaster with apple waste.
Drainage trenches are dug around the perimeter to drain meltwater. The ridge is prepared in spring. Before sowing the mycelium, moisten the ridge.
On the surface of the ridge, spread the mycelium mixed with substrate, in a layer of 10-12 cm, water it, cover with removed soil to a depth of about 6 cm, and cover with dry leaves or straw (1-8 cm).
Water by drip method in dry weather (do not use chlorinated water). In early spring of the following year, remove the covering. It is recommended to apply a small amount of ash (in water solution during watering, at a rate of 1 liter of ash per 1 m2) and apple pomace (pressings). Dosage: 10 grams of mycelium (1 packet) per 1 m2.
To obtain a stable yield at the same time each year, additional (repeated) application of mycelium is required annually.
