I have a big pot in the garden in which I have herbs of various kinds, mainly oregano and marjoram. Recently I noticed that mushrooms were growing in it. They got bigger and bigger then died off. My question is, is it possible that they were poisonous, and if so, should I empty the pot and lose the herbs and start again? Where would the mushrooms have come from?
sciencegravy
Favorite Answer
The mushrooms themselves certainly could have been poisonous if you ate them, but they can't translocate their alkaloids into your herbs, and composting them, or allowing the remains to become part of the soil in the pot is not a danger. Just disturb them when you see them - they're remarkably fragile.
rosagallica2002
Not to worry. They haven't tainted your herbs. They grew because they are a fungi and some fungi spores landed there. My guess is that it was damp for an extended period - have you had some rainy weather?
I would never eat a mushroom that I didn't know for certain was safe. If they grow again, just pull them out and throw them away.
And enjoy your herbs!