Is it possible to cash in on the lucrative industry of truffle farming from one’s own backyard? That’s the question I began to ask myself after going on a truffle hunting weekend in Millthorpe, NSW.
In theory, I guess it’s possible if you have the time to wait and you can reproduce the appropriate conditions to cultivate this fungus. Loretto and Greg Good are the farmers at Millthorpe Truffiere and they gave us lots of information on how to cultivate these gourmet delights.
Although I did get the impression that a lot of what they’ve done has been trial and error, with the paddock originating from another one of the family’s “crazy ideas” (they’re actually sheep farmers who planted out 800 trees on speculation, having never grown anything else commercially before).The “Good oil” according to Loretto is getting inoculated tree seedlings and having a go, in typical Aussie style. The Goods picked up some bargain plants for $10 each, usually retailing for $60 each but these overgrown tube-stock plants were destined for the rubbish heap, being root bound and not considered very promising. They bought 3 species, to hedge their bets, and invested in deciduous French and English Oaks and also an evergreen variety Holly Oak, Quercus ilex. At Millthorpe Truffiere it seems that the Holly Oak is producing best quality and quantities of truffles so far. This is a variety better suited to warmer, drier conditions and often used in Spain for that reason.
Remember you will need the right tree and the right fungus if you’re going to have a fighting chance.
There are a number of trees you can grow truffles on but they must be able to grow in mycorrhizal symbiosis with the truffle fungus. Hazelnuts have also been used but are sometimes rejected (despite the double crop) because their intricate root system makes the truffles much harder to dig out when harvesting. Yet, some growers believe that the hazelnut host makes for a better quality truffle. Because the root system is deeper, the truffles develop deeper in the soil where temperatures are more constant and buffered against extreme conditions, so the truffles develop gently and consistently.
Tuber melanosporum is the French Black, or Perigord, truffle sought after by chefs. The White Truffle T. magnatum is the king of all truffles, fetching the highest prices but not so widely available. Don’t be fooled into getting inferior stock producing Summer truffles or Chinese truffles, these do not have the same taste or appeal and will not command the same premium dollar if you were to sell them. The fungus and the tree depend upon each other – the fungus provides nutrients for the tree while the tree provides carbohydrates for the fungus, a good arrangement really! Now you need to provide the right conditions for success of both.
Truffles need to avoid real extremes to produce well. The truffle begins to form in Summer and heat or dry conditions during this time can damage it’s development, so irrigation and heavy mulching may be useful if you live in an area that gets less than 700 mm rainfall p.a. Once the truffle has formed then ripened during Autumn ready for harvest in winter, it is similarly important not to let the truffle freeze and ruin it. It’s suggested that 7 good frosts are ideal but certainly continual snow is not. So if you belong to Diggers Club, ideal truffle growing conditions are Heat zone 1-4 and Cold zone 8-10, with good summer rainfall. Truffle farms are being established in Australia in certain parts of Tasmania, Western Australia, Canberra region and central NSW.
Your soil needs to be free draining and with p.H. level of 8. The alkaline conditions seem to eliminate any competition from other mycorrhizal fungus that my be growing in these moist mild conditions. It’s important not to plant your newly inoculated plant near any other hosts like conifers, nuts, oaks or poplars who could potentially carry competing fungus.
I noticed that the Millthorpe farm had their oaks planted very closely together. When I asked about that, it appeared that it is the subject of much debate with some reckoning that close planting helped produce truffles earlier, but once the trees grow and start competing for soil nutrients some are needed to be culled, even if they are producing truffles, to allow them to grow into the large trees that they ultimately become. Others will prefer to simply prune the canopy to restrict the size and allow sunlight through to the soil. Still others will suggest that in natural conditions truffles grow on the outer edge of the forest where there is no competition for light or nutrients, so they will only plant out sparingly, with trees spaced well apart.
The first truffles can be produced from 4 or 5 years after planting for some species (e.g. hazelnuts) to 10 years for other species. It has been the Holly Oak, Q. ilex, that has been the early producer after only 3 years for Millthorpe (perhaps it is more to do with the rich volcanic basalt soils there but who knows) and one Canberra grower produced his first crops on hazelnuts in just 2 years. Some early producing species will produce for up to 20 years, yet later producers are said to still keep going after 50 years. The key is to look for grass dying off underneath the tree, leaving an area brownish in colour and rough on the surface – called brulee, like the dessert, it has a burnt appearance. This indicates fungal activity for the truffle as it kills off other organisms around it.
Electric fencing was also needed at the farm to keep out marauding foxes, rabbits and kangaroos (and I guess wild pigs!) Once exposed, the developing truffle is destroyed so control is critical. Beetles, weevils, snails and slugs also need to be controlled for successful production.
Does it all sound a bit too hard? I guess cultivating anything has its challenges but if you get it right growing truffles can really have it’s rewards. Whether it’s a hobby, a new found interest or the prospect of a future superannuation plan, it is certainly an exciting prospect and an industry that will surely grow here in Australia.
Twitter
Facebook
This is good well explained. Could an experiment be done with old exsisting acorn tree’s.”Thanks” Clem
Acorns grow on oaks so you could give it a try. The roots would need to be inoculated with the fungus first. Have a go!
Hi, where do I buy the fungus to innoculate trees with? Thank you kindly.
You could try the growers/nurseries where the trees are sold. They may sell you the inoculant separately.
Hi ..Are you able to grow this with in the South Pacific region for exsample Samoa it a volcanic island
Truffles need a cool winter to initiate fruiting of the fungal spores. Not sure that South pacific would get cold enough.
Hello
For the host trees can you use Almond Trees? I notice you have mentioned several types of host trees in your artical but is there any web sites that could provide a full list. We have acreage in Orange NSW and are looking to crop.
I have fresh black and white truffles,and im looking for a buyer
can you help me
sincerely yours
Check out truffle growers assoc at http://www.trufflegrowers.com.au/growing-truffles/
Also see good technical document on natural and cultivated truffle growing at
http://issinstitute.org.au/wp-content/media/2011/05/ISS-FEL-REPORT-C-CARTER-low-res.pdf
Can truffles be grown off eucalypt trees?
Not that I’m aware of.
Can truffles be grown with Macadamia Nut trees?
Not usually grown with Macadamias. The fungus needs a symbiotic relationship with the tree and exists only with certain species of plants.
very nice report..I want to ask about the fungus type
the fungus witch used to preduce the black truffle is it the same fungus witch used to preduce the white truffule ?
and how match fungus shuold the grower use to inoculated the roots beer tree?
how much truffle can get from a tree within one year
thanks
can successful truffle host trees be grown alongside grapes as I notice both need a high ph soil?
What tree for truffles would you suggest for Jindabynw NSW, 900mtrs above sea level? Is this area suitable for truffle farming?
Jindabyne NSW 900 mtrs above sea level. Is the area suited to truffle farming; what tree do you recommend?
I’d imagine that Jindabyne would be a good area to give it a go. You could try either hazelnuts or oak trees.
Hi i was wondering if you can help us…Do you know of anyone who would sell a truffle farm here in Perth we are seriously looking at buying one or starting our own if we start our own is anyone able to help advice and tell us and show us how its done how many acres would we need etc the costing we really need help! thank you hope you can advice. Janet
Janet you should check out truffle growers assoc at http://www.trufflegrowers.com.au/growing-truffles/
Also see good technical document on natural and cultivated truffle growing at
http://issinstitute.org.au/wp-content/media/2011/05/ISS-FEL-REPORT-C-CARTER-low-res.pdf
My parents have two inoculated hazelnut trees that were planted 10 – 15 years ago. I was pulling grass near the trees today and found our first white truffles! I found out they shouldn’t be harvested until September or October, so I put them back and covered them with mulch, like they were before. Will they continue to grow or do I need to go get them? I only dug about a square foot, so at least I didn’t dig them all.
Hi Val, What part of the world do you live in?
I’m in west-central Louisiana. When should I begin harvesting them? When the grass around them dies?
Not totally sure about white truffles (different from the black Perigord sp.) and timing for the Northern Hemisphere.
You could try this website: http://www.delectations.org/harvesting.html
Anyone else got some suggestions?
Thank you! I’m heading to delectations right now!
🙂
Still waiting on a response or two, but I found out my truffles are Italian whites and worth a pretty penny! The filbert trees are from Garland Truffles.
Getting excited!
Thank you for your responses.
Woo Hoo!
I’ll be interested how you find harvesting from the filberts. I’ve heard that it is harder with the matted root system.
Keep up posted.
If I have to use a dinner fork, I’ll get those babies out of the ground! Ha! I’ll let you know how it turns out.
🙂
Hi we have recently bought a farm with an existing hazelnut orchard . I am wondering if we could plant inoculated trees in some of the gaps that exist and if so would the fungus then spread to the existing trees that are not inoculated
I reckon you should give it a go.
If your conditions are right for you to produce truffles then as the trees get bigger their root systems can inter-twine if planted close enough. It could take some years to see results, so don’t give up your day job in the meantime!
I live on a 100 acre horse farm 2 kms. Inland from ocean surrounded by small mntns. These protect me from ocean breezes and salt air. My winter and summer temps. Are well within the requirements. However, for a few weeks the summer days can reach 30-33; and winter we can have frost almost every morning for 6 weeks. The soil is hard clay. It would need a bit of ripping and conditioning. I am located 15mins. North of Batemans Bay; 25 mins south of Ulladulla. I have plenty of water from rainfall, dams and an annual creek. Everything sounds great except the clay soil part. Suggestions please.
Oh, and what would be the best variety of tree to plant? Thanks, Kenn
Hey Kenn, I’d recommend that you speak to the folk at Yelverton Truffles in the Southern Highlands. They’d have some good suggestions for you I’m sure. Recently they harvested the largest truffle Australia has ever produced.
http://www.yelvertontruffles.com.au/news/news.html
i am into truffle business for several years, and if anyone have any question, he can ask me on cveticanin_milan@yahoo.com and i will be pleased to help…so feal free to contact me
Are pin oaks real oaks and can they grow truffels ?
Yes pin oak is a real oak, named Quercus palustris.
The English oak is preferred over Pin oak so I’d say that results wouldn’t be as good if you use Pin oak instead.
Hello great article, very informative. Thanks.
Would anyone know of a way to cultivate Desert Truffles? We have a huge block of land in a desert climate area with lots of bore well water and our climate goes down to near 0 in the winter and above 45 in summer. my email is zrhamah@gmail.com
Thanks
Veggie Lady, I really enjoyed looking at your site and reading the comments on truffles, I am a total novice on truffles, was wondering how they should be washed, with a brush? thoroughly before cooking, best way to use them, once extracted from the ground what is their life span, how to store them, in a fridge, or should they be kept moist?
Thanks
Hussain
London
Yes they need a good wash with cold water and a brush to remove all dirt. Pat dry with a paper towel. Then store in an airtight container with a new piece of paper towel in the container to absorb any moisture. It will keep in the fridge for up to a month. If you also keep some eggs in the container with the truffle it will infuse the egg through the porous shell. When you cook the eggs (scramble or omelette) it will have a mild truffle flavour too. Yum.
Just shave off small amounts off the truffle as you want it.
I live in far North Queensland 800m above sea level, with rich volcanic soil, warm rainy summers and cold drizzly winters (numerous frosts each winter). Is it worth trying to grow truffles? I’d like to get one as a gift for my husband.
Thanks.
Not sure how you would go, could be too humid. Perhaps try truffle growers association for advice.
Hi there we could be purchasing a farm in central tablelands/ Mid-western region believe it can get pretty cold -2 there but also has reached around 40c in summer do you think it would be ok to grow truffles with hazelnut trees? and if these climate conditions were ok how long do you think it would take to produce truffles and what sort of truffle would be produced? hoping you could advise thankyou very much 🙂
Sounds great, gotta love a tree change.
The area would be good for a try. Remember that Hazelnut trees have a more difficult (tangled) root system to negotiate truffles, but it can be done. You’re never sure exactly how long the truffles will take to produce, could be anything from 2 years to 7 years depending on trees and conditions. You will need to purchase inoculated trees for planting. Check with Truffle Growers Assoc for more details on area and suitable varieties of trees and truffles. Good luck!
thankyou very much for that 🙂
I have 3 Holmoak inoculated trees that are 4 years old. The trees are doing really well and about 3-4 meters high. I have mulched with pea straw and the ph is about 8. I don’t have a sniffer dog and I have been looking in hopes for a sign of truffles, but so far nothing seems to be happening. How deep should I dig? Would heavy mulching discourage development of the fungus? I live in Hepburn Springs which is in central Victoria, with cold winters and hot summers. Rain fall is usually high but of course not very much this year so far. The soil is fairly heavy but with good drainage. Maybe we have not yet had sufficient frosts although there has been at least one very heavy frost recently. I am naturally very anxiously waiting!! Is there anything else I should know?? Thank you Kind regards Suzanne Butler
The wait must be excruciating!!
The Holm oak is a slow grower and patience is needed, lots of it.
Have a read of this blog for a bit of encouragement:
http://www.thetrufflespore.com/13/13.html
Can wallnut trees grow truffle
?