Seasons for Mushroom and Berry Picking in the Carpathians
The Carpathians are a true paradise for fans of 'silent hunting'. The clean mountain air, the richness of flora and fauna, and the generosity of forest gifts attract tourists from all over the world. Each season has its own features and attractions for mushroom and berry picking.
- Summer: June-August - the peak season for picking most berries, such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and lingonberries.
- Autumn: September-October - the best time for mushroom picking when humidity and temperature create ideal conditions. During this time, porcini mushrooms, birch boletes, butter mushrooms, and other species are collected.
Popular Places for Mushroom and Berry Picking
The Carpathian forests abound with various places where you can find plenty of mushrooms and berries:
- Skole Beskids
- Gorgany
- Chornohora mountain range
- Polonyna meadows of Transcarpathia
Tips for Picking
- Always take a basket or a breathable fabric bag to store mushrooms and berries.
- Use a mushroom knife for neatly cutting mushrooms from the ground.
- Know which mushrooms are edible – many mushrooms can be poisonous.
- Pick berries only in ecologically clean areas, away from roads and industrial facilities.
Ethics and Safety
When picking mushrooms and berries, it is important to follow the ethics of behavior in the forest:
- Do not leave trash in the forest.
- Do not damage moss and other vegetation that is home to many animals and insects.
- Follow fire safety rules, do not light fires in undesignated places.
- Inform family or friends about your route and return time.
Useful Resources
Before going to the forest for mushrooms and berries, it is useful to study the following resources:
- Maps of the area and GPS navigators
- Guides to mushrooms and berries
- Recommendations from locals and experienced mushroom pickers