Gurumelos (Amanita ponderosa): where they grow now and when
The mushroom of the south-western spring. It breaks out of the ground like a white stone and smells of wet earth.
The gurumelo (Amanita ponderosa) comes out from February to April, at its best in March, in woods of holm oak, cork oak and gum rockrose, mostly on low ground.
See where it is ready this week
No area is ready for gurumelos this week: the forest is still asleep.
The gurumelo is the best-loved mushroom of Huelva, Badajoz, Seville and the Alentejo. It lives in rockrose scrub, holm oak and cork oak woods on acid soil and appears in late winter and spring, half buried, its volva stained with earth.
It needs plenty of rain in February and March on soil that warms up quickly. It is a mushroom of local festivals and fairs, and picking it is regulated in several areas: check before you go out.
What it needs to come out
First, a generous rain, the kind that soaks down to the roots. Then patience: it usually appears after two or three weeks, as long as the soil holds on to that moisture and stays mild. If a frost, too much water or a drying wind comes in between, the flush is aborted and never shows.
Where to look
It comes out in woods of holm oak, cork oak and gum rockrose, mostly on low ground, always on acid soils.
Gurumelos by province: Andalusia: Cádiz, Córdoba, Huelva, Málaga, Sevilla · Asturias · Basque Country: Álava, Guipúzcoa, Vizcaya · Cantabria · Castile and León: Ávila, Burgos, León, Salamanca, Zamora · Castilla-La Mancha: Ciudad Real, Toledo · Catalonia: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida · Extremadura: Badajoz, Cáceres · Galicia: A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense, Pontevedra · La Rioja · Navarra · Zaragoza
Gurumelos in Andalusia, province by province
Gurumelos season in Cádiz
We count 87 zones in Cádiz where gurumelos can come up, between 100 and 650 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Algar, Jimena de la Frontera, Castellar de la Frontera and Ubrique.
When to look for Gurumelos in Córdoba
In Córdoba we follow 180 zones with woodland for gurumelos, between 350 and 700 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Villarrubia, Córdoba, Villaviciosa de Córdoba and Hornachuelos.
Gurumelos in Huelva: where and when
Huelva has 266 zones with the woodland gurumelos need, from 100 to 550 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Cabezas Rubias, Aroche, Rosal de la Frontera and Monesterio.
Foraging for Gurumelos in Málaga
We count 50 zones in Málaga where gurumelos can come up, between 200 and 850 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Ubrique, Jimena de la Frontera, Gaucín and Genalguacil.
Gurumelos spots in Sevilla
In Sevilla we follow 134 zones with woodland for gurumelos, between 200 and 650 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Constantina, Puebla del Maestre, Malcocinado and Nerva.
Gurumelos in Asturias
Asturias has 14 zones with the woodland gurumelos need, from 200 to 850 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near San Vicente de la Barquera, Llanes, Potes and Carreña.
Gurumelos season in the Basque Country
Where to find Gurumelos in Álava
We count 32 zones in Álava where gurumelos can come up, between 250 and 850 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Balmaseda, Amurrio, Murgia and Lezama.
Finding Gurumelos in Guipúzcoa
In Guipúzcoa we follow 3 zones with woodland for gurumelos, between 150 and 400 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Mendaro and Mutriku.
Gurumelos season in Vizcaya
Vizcaya has 33 zones with the woodland gurumelos need, from 100 to 550 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Ispaster, Ea, Ramales de la Victoria and Amoroto.
When to look for Gurumelos in Cantabria
We count 60 zones in Cantabria where gurumelos can come up, between 100 and 650 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Laredo, Ramales de la Victoria, Ampuero and Rasines.
Where to find Gurumelos in Castile and León
Gurumelos in Ávila: where and when
In Ávila we follow 3 zones with woodland for gurumelos, between 750 and 850 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Madrigal de la Vera, El Hornillo and Candeleda.
Foraging for Gurumelos in Burgos
Burgos has 22 zones with the woodland gurumelos need, from 350 to 800 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Balmaseda, Villasana de Mena, Espinosa de los Monteros and Villanueva de Valdegovía.
Gurumelos spots in León
We count 63 zones in León where gurumelos can come up, between 600 and 900 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Puente de Domingo Flórez, Carucedo, Castrocalbón and Toreno.
Gurumelos in Salamanca
In Salamanca we follow 230 zones with woodland for gurumelos, between 650 and 850 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near El Bodón, La Fregeneda, San Esteban de la Sierra and Ciudad Rodrigo.
Where to find Gurumelos in Zamora
Zamora has 153 zones with the woodland gurumelos need, from 700 to 850 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Carbajales de Alba, Tábara, Torregamones and Fariza.
Gurumelos in Castilla-La Mancha, province by province
Finding Gurumelos in Ciudad Real
We count 41 zones in Ciudad Real where gurumelos can come up, between 500 and 850 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Torrecampo, Almadén, Conquista and Saceruela.
Gurumelos season in Toledo
In Toledo we follow 5 zones with woodland for gurumelos, between 750 and 850 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Robledo del Mazo, Navas de Estena, Los Navalucillos and Sevilleja de la Jara.
Gurumelos season in Catalonia
When to look for Gurumelos in Barcelona
Barcelona has 24 zones with the woodland gurumelos need, from 150 to 850 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Gualba de Dalt, Sant Pol de Mar, Vallgorguina and Montseny.
Gurumelos in Girona: where and when
We count 85 zones in Girona where gurumelos can come up, between 250 and 800 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Santa Coloma de Farners, Osor, Darnius and Breda.
Foraging for Gurumelos in Lleida
In Lleida we follow 1 zones with woodland for gurumelos, at about 750 m. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Sort.
Where to find Gurumelos in Extremadura
Gurumelos spots in Badajoz
Badajoz has 293 zones with the woodland gurumelos need, from 250 to 650 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Salvatierra de los Barros, Valle de Matamoros, Salvaleón and Manchita.
Gurumelos in Cáceres
We count 324 zones in Cáceres where gurumelos can come up, between 300 and 700 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Aliseda, Cordobilla de Lácara, Alcuéscar and Palomero.
Gurumelos in Galicia, province by province
Where to find Gurumelos in A Coruña
In A Coruña we follow 44 zones with woodland for gurumelos, between 100 and 450 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Muros, Carnota, O Ézaro and O Pindo.
Finding Gurumelos in Lugo
Lugo has 4 zones with the woodland gurumelos need, from 250 to 750 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near Luintra, Chantada, Pantón and Quiroga.
Gurumelos season in Ourense
We count 35 zones in Ourense where gurumelos can come up, between 150 and 600 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Padrenda, Toén, Castrelo de Miño and Avión.
When to look for Gurumelos in Pontevedra
In Pontevedra we follow 24 zones with woodland for gurumelos, between 50 and 550 m above sea level. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Melón, Arbo, O Rosal and Covelo.
Gurumelos in La Rioja: where and when
In La Rioja we follow 1 zones with woodland for gurumelos, at about 800 m. This week the woods are still asleep. Those with the most woodland are near San Millán de la Cogolla.
Foraging for Gurumelos in Navarra
We count 14 zones in Navarra where gurumelos can come up, between 500 and 800 m. None is ready this week. The widest woods are near Mendaza, Ancín, Zudaire and Oltza.
Gurumelos spots in Zaragoza
In Zaragoza we follow 1 zones with woodland for gurumelos, at about 750 m. For now, no zone is ready. The zones with the most woodland lie near Arén.
How the forest is doing this week
- Asleep 2226 zones
Forecast of 26 October, updated every day.
Mushrooms that share its woods
- Bronze bolete: The bolete of the holm oak woods: dark, stout and firm-fleshed. The most prized of its family.
- Wild asparagus: The first green of the year. It comes up after rain, in the scrub and along field margins, and lasts as long as spring does.
- Caesar's mushroom: The queen. Orange as a golden egg, scarce and ever more sought after.
- St George's mushroom: The spring mushroom par excellence. A smell of flour you notice from metres away and a price that says it all.
- King oyster mushroom: The mushroom of the central plateau: fields, wasteland and thistles. Humble in name and noble on the table.