WHITE MOULD

MUSHROOM TIME

Ian
A fine white mould appears in patches of my soil. I first thought it was the mouldy roots of a dead plant but have since discovered it amongst the roots of salad leaf plants. What is it and how can I get rid of it? Thanks H.M. Buncrana

Reply
This mould sounds like the mycelium of a fungus breaking down organic matter in the soil and is probably not affecting your plants. But this does not happen in most soils, so why yours? I have several theories. Have you been using mushroom compost as a soil conditioner, in which case the large lumps of organic matter in the compost will be attracting fungi and might still have mushroom mycelium in it - this does not necessarily mean you can eat any mushrooms or toadstools that grow from it! Have any trees recently been cut down near this area of the garden, because fungi might be busy at work breaking down the roots left behind in the soil? Finally, if you have been spreading home made compost, this may not have been properly well rotted and fungi could still be hard at work in it. Track down the source and you should be able to control the fungus.

Horticultural.