Mushrooms are sprouting on the cricket ground at Onepoto Domain on Auckland's North Shore. Photo / Greg Bowker
Wild mushrooms are popping up in January because they think it's autumn - the consequence of an unpredictable summer that has also been blamed for playing havoc with crops.
Some summer vegetables and fruit have been harvested late while more could be affected by the lack of sunshine.
Dr Peter Buchanan, of Landcare Research, said mushrooms, usually an autumn feature, were sprouting early, triggered by the unusual levels of humidity and cool temperatures.
"Mushrooms are not entirely normal for this time of year; they prefer the autumn or sometimes the spring when it is a bit cooler and more humid. But there's more moisture around at the moment and the mushrooms are taking advantage of that."
But he warned people not to be tempted to eat the fungi as they could end up in hospital.
"There are some quite dangerous fungi here which could make people extremely ill if they eat them. Wild mushrooms are best left alone unless you are an expert."
Ken Robertson, senior business manager of Horticulture New Zealand, said onions and kabocha, a special squash exported to Japan, were behind schedule because they had been late maturing after last year's colder than usual winter.
He said apricots, plums and nectarines had also been affected and were harvested late.
The summer season was now under way and vegetables being harvested included peas, beans and sweetcorn for processing while fruit such as apples and kiwifruit would start next month.
Another month without much sunshine could be problematic but Mr Robertson was hopeful plenty of fine weather was in store.
Pukekohe onion grower Howe Young said the crops could have done with a bit more rain before Christmas to finish them off and the cold winter had not helped and led to late maturing.
He expected the onion crops would be lighter this year although recent rain could still boost the tonnage.
A MetService spokesman said normal sunshine hours were expected this month and next.
