I live in the Columbus, OH area and am wondering if anyone knew approximate timeframes for other edible mushrooms (aside from morels) to grow. This is a hobby I'm just getting into this year, and am trying to add more things to search for to keep myself interested as close to year-round as I can. Something is just calling me back to nature lately! Anyway, I'm a big edible fungi fan, and if anyone can give me some tips about the following kinds, I would really appreciate it. I haven't found as much good info. on these as I have morels so far, so I figure this may be the place to ask. Thanks in advance!
Looking for:
Chanterelles, chicken-of-the-woods, hen-of-the-woods, oyster mushrooms, and I guess any other edible ones that would grow in my area. Do they generally like the same trees as morels, and just come up at different times of the year? I know chanterelles have two nasty lookalikes, and have been examining multiple pictures of the gills to make sure I can tell the difference, and I know someone who I could take them to if I felt i had to. Thanks again!!

-Tomish

Chantrelles of various types will get going in july when we get some rains and continue through to september for the most part. The chickens and hens can be august - september depending on your weather conditions if the season stays warm throughout the fall i wouldnt be suprised to find some into october. Oysters you just go look for when you get an a days worth of rain. i've noticed there are certain times that help to look for them as well, i think the first major days rain during the spring will pop them. Also noticed that they'll be around in the fall, and if you get a thaw in the winter and catch some rain, those winter oysters can be a nice treat in december and further into winter if you get the right climate for several days. there are many many others but there's a start for you

go and pick up a mushroom book and generally they will have the time frames as well as habitat and many other things

Thanks for the pointers. One last one, though--any books you've found particularly helpful for the OH area that you'd care to recommend? Thanks much!

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms, this is a good all-around guide, there's also a thread on this subject, viewtopic.php?f=54&t=8973&hilit=best+mushroom+book

Thank you! I just bought that off Amazon. I see they have a smaller field guide, so I assume the main book is not necessarily meant to go on the hunt with you. Is that pocket guide worth it, or not really? Appreciate the help. This hobby is quickly growing into an obsession.

morels like a lot of different trees. in my experience summer and fall shrooms like to favor oak. i Love oak trees

I agree, this book helped me out a lot through the fall. I like the fact that it has the general ranges and the times you can find them. I originally stuck to more unique looking mushrooms starting out and stayed away from the ones that had tons of "look-a-likes".

While out hunting morels watch for dryad's saddle, I found it to be plentiful this year. This is a very underated mushroom.

Yeah I've seen way more Dryad's Saddles than morels, unfortunately. I haven't picked any--I've heard they're edible, but the comments about them that I've read haven't been anything that would pursuade me to try them. Is there a certain way to cook them? I've heard they're bland, or taste like wood.

I actually like them a lot. They are best when found young, although I check everyone I find. I take my knife and try slicing the edge towards the center, if cuts easy I take it. You can cut and eat the soft edge. I like to fbread and fry them. Sometimes I will just fry them in butter. Cook them over low heat and make sure you don't over cook them, they'll get rubbery. Don't wory too much about undercooking them, they are one of the only mushrooms I'll take a bite of while still in the woods :)