Mushroom Invasion

[Mikesterbrau]

This is my first time ever growing hops. I started them off in planters just as an experiment, but now it looks like they're growing fairly well on my balcony.

I haven't been watering them every day, but yesterday I caught up and gave both pots a decent amount of moisture. Today when I went to water again, one of the pots had a bunch of small mushrooms in it.

Do I need to pull them out? Does it mean I'm watering too much? Only the one pot has them, so far.

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

It's probably not going to hurt the hops, but you can pull them just incase.

I would plan on moving them out of planters fairly soon though. I've had a few friends who tried growing them in the past and they never did well. Sure, they grew...but they never produced hops. The roots need a ton of room to grow.

 

[Nurmey]

That is a good sign. It means you have lots of organic matter in the soil, which hops like. Pick them or not but you might want to hold that watering down a bit. Let the first couple inches dry out before watering again.

 

[Rick500]

I'm growing what are now second-year hops in 18 gallon containers. Got a decent harvest first year (wasn't really expecting anything first year), and they're doing great this year. It'll work if you keep up with them and keep them watered and fed.

 

[B-Hoppy]

as a general rule, the types of fungi that cause mushrooms are very reactive to 'wetting and drying' cycles. so if you go a long time with dry conditions, then the soil gets a big blast of water, MUSHROOMS! it's no big deal, all it means is that there is a bunch of the fungi living in your soil and most 'shrooms' will live right along with everyone else in the neighborhood and get along without any problems. keep growing!

 

[Randar]

Yeah, I got mushroom compost on more than one occasion that sprouted mushrooms all over the place right after heavy soaking rains. Once they looked like the Enoki mushrooms and another time they were shiitake. A couple other times I have no idea so left them alone!

 

[Retrofit]

+1 on the mushroom compost. I pull 'em out. If I didn't intend to plant it and I find it, I pull it out. Just my style.

 

[david_42]

I've had several waves of mushrooms this year. Probably from the hay I used for mulch last Fall. The hops themselves are finally starting to grow, now that the temperature has been hitting the low-70s. Still cold at night, but it's been 6 days since I've seen frost.

 

[Mike M]

..A couple other times I have no idea so left them alone!

You know what they say about mushrooms; one man’s poison is another man’s hallucinogen.

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

You know what they say about mushrooms; one man’s poison is another man’s hallucinogen.

Different kind of mushroom, I'm assuming.

 

[Retrofit]

Today I found mushrooms in my first year hops that are also coverned with homemade compost.

 

[ex_mo]

Whatever you do, watch out for badgers.

 

[lou2row]

Many fungi form symbiotic relationships with plants that are mutually beneficial. They shouldn't hurt, and you are just pulling the fruit of the plant; the mycelium in the soil is the fungi's main form.