HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY CULTIVATE A MOREL CROP

To successfully cultivate a morel crop you must continuously nurture and care for your trees as soon as you receive them in November or December. Planning ahead for planting is very important and you must determine where, when, and how to prepare for the planting of your trees before you receive them. The following is a list of items to keep in mind when planting and caring for your seedlings.  Healthy and happy trees mean a more fruitful morel crop.  Heat and dryness are enemies of your trees and the delicate morel fungus that is inside the roots.  Wet the roots of the trees when you receive them and store in a cool place.

Here’s a list of things that you must do to plan for the planting and the care of the tree and the fungus inside the tree root.

• Till the soil at least 1 foot deep before planting.
• Plant in soil that is sandy loam, or humus, without much clay.  Some clay is ok, but too much may cause the soil to hold water. Rocky or gravel type soil where water drains too quickly must be avoided.  You must plant in a section of the United States where hardwood trees grow naturally, such as oak, elm, ash, maple, etc. Soil should have Ph of  6 – 8.
• Tamp the soil firmly around the roots of the tree when planting to avoid air around the root.
• Plan to have a good source of water available before you plant, and be sure to water immediately after planting.
• Plant trees in soil that is well drained. Puddles or standing water will kill the fungus and the tree. Rain must run off slowly. Planting trees in swampland, bogs, septic systems or marshland, must be avoided.
• Never plant trees on a steep slope, or on the north side of a hill or building, or in a place where the tree will not receive adequate sunshine. Planting on east facing gentle slopes is permissible or slightly sloping land where the trees will receive morning sun and afternoon shade.  Plants will be able to tolerate full sun all day if you mulch and water often during the first two years.
• During an extended period of hot or dry weather you must water often and make sure there is adequate mulch, at least 1 inch, but not more than 2 inches. Use non-acidic natural mulch such as ground bark chips, leaves, pine needles, etc. No not allow grass to grow around the base of the tree.
• During the year do not walk too close to the trees, try to keep the ground soft and unpacked, and do not till around the trees.
• You may be required to install a small fence around your plantation. Rabbits will eat the elm trees, squirrels will dig around the trees, and deer will eat the morels.
• Do not spray the trees with chemicals, and avoid fertilizers with nitrogen over 15. You may sprinkle 12-12-12 very lightly around trees. Too much fertilizer will burn out the morel fungus. 
• Do not transplant trees older than two years.  When transplanting don’t dig too close to the tree, dig at the “drip-line” of the tree. The width of the limbs marks the drip-line, which is the equivalent of the width of the roots of the tree.
• Row plantations are best when running east and west, where trees are planted in a single a row spaced about three feet apart. The trees will eventually share shade during most of the day.  Rows can be approximately 4 to 5 feet apart to allow for mowing or moving equipment for watering between them.
• Box plantations are planted in small sections such as 30 feet by 15 feet, holding approximately 50 trees per plantation. The trees are planted approximately three feet apart in order to share shade. You can allow enough room to walk around the box plantations for watering or mulching by throwing light mulch around the trees without walking inside the box. When finished you may want to put up a small fence to keep rabbits and other animals out of the plantation.
• Morel production is proportional to the age of the tree and may begin anytime after the tree is four years old. The tree comes to you at one year old. Older trees that have been successfully maintained will have a larger critical mass of morel fungus inside the root system.  A larger critical mass inside the roots equates to better morel production at harvest time.  The final instructions for harvesting will come with your order.