Truffles

Once the proposed truffle farm has been spiked, plowed and fenced, you will need to stake out the planting grid. You stake out the planting grid a couple of weeks before planting your truffle trees. You want to make sure that once the proposed truffle farm is staked out, you wont be needing to plow the land again. Here in Spain the planting grid is 6 meters by 6 meters ( about 18 ft by 18 ft aprox). The 6 x 6 meter planting grid is mandatory by law to receive governments grants for this project. It also allows for the trees to shade the ground in summer but let enough sunlight thru in the winter, once they are mature.

You will be planting your trees in autumn or fall, depending on which side of the Equator you are on. Fall planting of your truffle farm has a number of advantages. Your truffle trees will be entering hibernation and suffer the transplant better. You will have less mortality rate of your trees. Black truffles trees are not cheap, they cost between 5 and 7 Euros here in Spain ( September 2010 ). There is also now scientific proof that proves that when you plant your truffle farm in the fall, your truffles trees will suffer droughts better if you do not have irrigation and will produce more truffles over the life of your black truffle farm.

The holm oak, Downey oak and Hazel nut trees are your choices of truffle trees for a black truffle farm. The Holm oak is by far is the best truffle tree on the market. It is known to be a hardy and resistant host to the black truffle spore or mycelium. This black truffle tree is king when it comes to truffle trees or at least here in Europe. The holm oak is also very resistant to droughts and has a number of different strains to fit your geographical location on mother earth. The next truffle tree of choice is the Downy Oak. The Downey oak prefers a more humid environment to thrive well. It suffers droughts worse than the holm oak but it is still relatively resistant to cross contamination of undesirable micro organisms. Last but not least is the Hazel nut tree. The hazel nut tree has virtually been eliminated in Spanish black truffle farms even thou some inoculation nurseries still produce some hazel nut trees each year. Other countries have found out the hard way that the hazel nut tree is not a reliable host for the black truffle spore, mainly due to easy cross contamination with undesirable lesser quality truffles. So if someone offers you hazel nut trees as your host tree for a black truffle farm, look else where for your trees. Many people will argue this fact. One advantage the hazel nut tree has over the holm oak or downey oak is that it might produce some black truffles some years earlier. But most feel, the risk of cross contamination far out weighs the advantage of early produced black truffles, hence the fall in the use of hazel nut trees on black truffle farms. Read the rest of this entry »

Truffles are considered rare and a delicacy in some countries, thus its high price. The majority of the truffles are from Europe, although countries like the United States, Australia and New Zealand are already venturing into commercial reproduction.

Not all varieties are the same. Although there are hundreds of truffle species, not all are consumed by humans. There are particular truffles which are considered higher in value likened to other species, like the white truffle. The lowest value was in 1992, when it arrived at the country $350 for each pound. Its most expensive was when each pound costs $2000. The most expensive was the white truffle weighing 3.3 pounds purchased for $330,000.

Since buying truffles is no light matter, in relation to budget, it is important to consider several points to make sure that you would be getting your money worth. Timing is necessary in harvesting, marketing and buying truffles. There are truffles like the black winter variety that is best bought during its peak season which is from February to March.

Truffles have their own features and colors which could change established on how old they are or maturity. For example, black truffles when in their growing stages would have red exterior color with the inside white in place of black. This would be during early spring. Upon September to November, the black would become dark grey or black with white veins. This is an indication that the truffles are mature enough to harvest and to eat.

The truffles should not reach beyond this point. They would develop a disagreeable odour and they become spongy and dry. Truffles showing this sort of characteristics are no longer ideal for consumption. When looking for truffles, ensure that they’re harvested in their right age. Read the rest of this entry »