You've probably thought of truffles as something you can only taste at a restaurant or in expensive olive oil from a fancy store. We know that... until we discovered the truth. Like many things, what is expensive to buy is much cheaper to grow.Truffles are simply a (delicious) mushroom that grows on a tree root, and yes, you can grow them yourself. Read on to know how to grow truffles at home!
First some background information about beautiful, bumpy truffles.
It is a group of species from the Ascomycota fungal group (the group containing most known species) that grow completely underground. The part we eat – the part you imagine when you think of a truffle – is the fruiting body of the organism. The same goes for other mushrooms we eat. The fruiting body is responsible for releasing spores into the environment, similar to the seed of a plant.
Truffles are part of an additional group of species called mycorrhizal fungi. These amazing organisms form symbiotic (mutually beneficial) associations with trees. The trees provide them with energy in the form of sugars, and the fungi provide the trees with nutrients and water, which the far-reaching hyphae (the part of the fungus that we don't normally think about or think about) can obtain . Because of this relationshipTruffles need trees to grow.
Truffles are considered a delicacy around the world, with the most famous varieties selling for more than $3,600 each. pounds (€2,984). Historically, most truffles were grown in Europe, particularly France, Spain and Italy. However,they will and will grow well in many countries. From the northwestern part of the United States, to Australia, to Germany, you name it, truffles are foundgrows naturally in the forest, and/or isis cultivated. And while hunting for wild-growing truffles requires you to live in the right place and probably have a truffle-sniffing dog (next Christmas present?), growing truffles in your own backyard costs very little.
Anyone can grow truffles, all you need is a tree, some spores and a little patience. Let's look at the process of growing truffles.
Step 1. Evaluate your space and soil
You can't avoid the "need a tree" part of the process. However, it doesn't have to be a huge tree and it is possible to grow one in a pot. The easiest way to grow a truffle tree is bybuy a tree that has already been grafted with spores. There are companies doing this now, it may just take some research to find the company closest to you. You will probably have to have it shipped as they are not so common that they occur in every city or region.
Truffles grow best inalkaline soil(pH around 8), i.ewell drainingand somethingnutritionally poor. You can test your soil with a pH strip. If the pH is lower, try adding some lime to the soil regularly until you notice the pH rising. Or try growing your tree in a pot to create your alkaline soil. If planting in a pot, use a very large terracotta pot and mix the soil with sand or fine gravel for good drainage.
Step 2. Choose your tree
There are a few tree species known for truffle production. Three of the most common areHassel,Oak, InBook.
Hazel may be the best option when growing in a pot as it can remain shrubby and is cut back about every seven years. Again, do some research here to see what works for your space, what truffles you want to grow, and what will grow best in the environment you live in.
Step 3. Plant your tree carefully, take good care and then wait.
Establishing a tree requires a bit of focus. It will be necessarya lot of waterwhile it is then settled into its new homewrite downa daily watering routine and stick to it.
It is also important todo not use fertilizerat every point in the growth process. Fertilizer can get into the truffles and affect their taste, or it can negatively affect their growth.
If you use a pot, you can better control conditions by moving it inside when it's too hot or too cold. For optimal truffle conditions, try to keep the tree indoorstemperatures around 70s Fahrenheit (20s Celsius), if possible, . If your tree is outside, you don't have to worry too much about not being able to control the temperature. Experiments are fun!
Pot or potless,after about a yearyour tree must be fully established and able to withstand rainwater. You've reached the point where you can sit back, relax and imagine yourstruffles take shape underground. This is where the patience part of the process comes into play. That is usually necessaryfour to seven years before truffles are ready for harvest. But in the meantime you can watch your tree grow, which is a beautiful process in itself.
Step 4. Find your truffles
Spoiler alert: you don't need a truffle-sniffing dog or pig to figure out where to look for your truffles.
So it's been four years and you're wondering if you should start digging for your gold. The question is: how do you actually know if the truffles are ready to be harvested? And how on earth do you know where to dig without digging up the entire tree?
As previously mentioned, truffle hunters will use dogs trained to detect the scent of individual truffles. Pigs are also good truffle seekers. But luckily none of the animals are needed. There are simple clues to look for to know when and where to dig.
- Cracked ground: Many truffles grow just below the surface of the soil. So keep an eye on the ground for cracks and dents that indicate a nearby truffle.
- Dead grass: Compounds in truffles that taste good to humans and smell strongly to dogs are also natural herbicides. If grass grows around your tree during the waiting period, a truffle will create a dead grass ring over it.
- Animals digging up a storm: many animals are attracted to the smell of the truffles and will try to get to them. Although you may not have pigs around, smaller animals such as squirrels are also fans of the truffle scent. If you see furry friends digging around your tree, it might be time to do some digging yourself!
When you see any of these symptoms,try using a graterabout that area. Ripping is less invasive than digging, but if the ground is too hard or you can't find anything, dig the area carefully. And if you don't find something right away, don't worry! Cracked ground can be the result of dry conditions and animals may simply be digging for nuts. Give your truffles a little more time and learn to enjoy the waiting game.
Conclusion
Growing truffles takes a little more time than vegetable gardening, but the rewards are so unique and delicious! After the initial care of your young tree, you can sit back, watch your tree grow and imagine your delicious mushroom (sounds wrong, we know) taking shape underground.
And then, a few years later, what a day it will be when you dig up those lumpy, brown, beautiful truffles and turn them into something delicious for family and friends. Or decide to keep it all to yourself... no judgment here.
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/truffels-the-most-expensive-food-in-the-world/
https://www.englishtruffles.co.uk/truffle-trees/truffle-tree-faq/
