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Truffles have always been synonymous with luxury and wealth due to their amazing culinary qualities. However, they are very difficult to find in the wild, so these mushrooms have always had a very high price. For a long time it was believed that growing truffles at home was impossible, but numerous experiments have proven that this is not so. Today, it is quite possible to grow these mushrooms yourself if you simulate the conditions necessary for this.
Is it possible to grow truffles at home?
Truffles belong to the marsupial fungi, the tuberous fruiting bodies of which develop underground. In total, there are about 40 different types of these mushrooms, but not all of them are edible, much less delicious.
The most valuable types of truffles are:
- Perigordsky (Black).
- Piedmontese (Italian).
- Winter.
Under natural conditions, these species grow in the south of France and Switzerland, as well as in Northern Italy. One of the types of truffles found in Russia is the summer one. It grows in the Central region. Sometimes these mushrooms are found in other areas, for example, they are periodically discovered in the Krasnodar and Stavropol territories, as well as in the Crimea.
In the wild, truffle most often grows in deciduous forests, forming mycorrhiza with the roots of oak, beech, and hornbeam. It was this property of mushrooms that was used to develop the principles of their artificial cultivation. The first successful attempts to cultivate truffles were made in France at the beginning of the 19th century. It is difficult to call this a full-fledged cultivation cycle, since the researchers simply simulated the natural environment in which the fungal mycelium grows.
The essence of the experiment was as follows. Acorns were collected from the trees under which the mushrooms were found in the wild. They were germinated, and then the seedlings were planted in a separate oak grove. Truffles were subsequently discovered under many of these oak trees. The method was considered successful, and by the end of the 19th century the total area of such nursery groves was already more than 700 square meters. km.
Currently, the delicious mushroom is cultivated in many countries. In addition to France, truffles are grown in Spain, Great Britain, and the USA. At the beginning of this century, China took first place in mushroom production. In Russia, truffle cultivation can only be done in southern regions with similar climatic conditions. Otherwise, it will be necessary to simulate the microclimate artificially, which will require large material costs.
Truffle growing technology
Truffle cultivation at home is usually carried out in artificial nursery groves. The basis of the method is the inoculation of oak or hazel seedlings with mycelium of the fungus with further planting of the latter in the prepared soil of special nurseries. In the following months, strict quarantine is carried out and plantings are monitored. After the mycelium has successfully taken root on the roots of the seedlings, they are planted in a prepared open area.
Truffles can also be grown indoors, where the necessary microclimate parameters are artificially maintained. In this case, a special substrate made of oak sawdust is used, on which the mycelium of the fungus develops. Under good conditions, mycorrhiza occurs and fruiting bodies appear on the mycelium.
Conditions for growing truffles
Before planting oak or hazel seedlings inoculated with mycelium, the area must be prepared. Here are the basic requirements for the normal cultivation and development of mushrooms:
- Well-cultivated, loose soil.
- The presence of a sufficient amount of humus in the soil, increased calcium content.
- Soil acidity is at least 7.5 (optimally pH = 7.9).
- Absence of any other fungi in the mycelium area.
- Relatively dry climate.
- The average temperature in summer should be between + 18-22 °C.
How to grow truffles at home
Unfortunately, the climatic conditions of most of Russia are very different from the weather conditions of Southern Europe, so it will most likely not be possible to grow truffles from mycelium in the Moscow region using the method described above.And besides, not everyone has the opportunity to plant their own oak grove on their property. In this case, you can try to grow a truffle under a single tree, or in areas with an unfavorable climate - in the basement of a house or a greenhouse.
How to grow truffles under trees
You can grow a truffle yourself under a tree. In regions with warm summers and mild winters, such an experiment may well end successfully. To do this, you will need to plant a seedling whose roots have already been inoculated with truffle mycelium. Such planting material can be purchased online or in specialized stores.
Most often, supplier companies offer Lebanese cedar, common hornbeam, pedunculate oak, holm oak, Atlas cedar, Aleppo pine, bear hazel, and European beech as seedlings for cultivation.
Young seedlings are sold, as a rule, in containers of various capacities (depending on their age). After purchasing the tree, it is planted in the prepared area. Under favorable conditions, a mushroom harvest may appear within the next 3-5 years.
How to grow truffles in a greenhouse
A greenhouse can be used to simulate weather conditions in regions where the climate does not allow truffles to be grown under trees. This will require significant financial costs for special equipment, heating and air conditioning systems, as well as soil preparation. It needs to be cleared of roots and stones, ensure a normal level of acidity and the presence of necessary microelements.
Sawdust of various hardwoods, primarily oak and beech, is used as a nutrient medium for growing mushrooms. They are infected with truffle mycelium and placed in a sterile environment until mycorrhiza forms. This may take up to 1 year. After the mycelium develops, it is planted in a greenhouse in a prepared soil substrate.
Landing is carried out as follows:
- Depressions of about 0.5-0.6 m are made in the ground, placing them at a distance of 1-2 m from each other.
- The holes are spilled with water and a layer of humus is added to them.
- Sawdust with truffle mycelium developed on it is laid out in the holes, approximately 1 handful for each hole.
- The mycelium is covered with hay or sawdust on top.
In the greenhouse, conditions close to ideal must always be maintained. The ambient temperature should be about + 22 °C, and the relative humidity should be 55-60%. In winter, the soil should be mulched with peat for additional thermal insulation.
How to grow truffles at the dacha in the basement
Growing truffles at home all year round is possible using, for example, the basement of a house. To do this, it must be equipped with the same systems as the greenhouse. Basements are more preferable for growing not only truffles, but also any mushrooms in general, since they have much greater inertia. They keep temperature and humidity parameters more stable; in addition, there is no need to take measures to limit excess sunlight.
CO2, which is heavier than air, accumulates during the decomposition of organic residues and can gradually fill the entire basement, and this can be life-threatening.
For ease of work, it is advisable to zone the internal space of the basement, that is, to separate the places where the mycelium is grown and where the mushrooms ripen directly. Before starting work, the room is equipped with racks for placing containers with the substrate, and it is also disinfected.
Truffle harvest
In the first few years, the truffle yield is small. From the age of 4-5 years, the quantity and quality of mushrooms increases significantly. The optimal time for collecting truffles is the beginning of autumn, the first half of September. Fruiting bodies ripen underground, which creates serious problems for finding them. Therefore, specially trained animals - dogs or pigs - are used to detect truffles. Their subtle sense of smell is excellent for detecting mushrooms even under a layer of soil.
Another sign of the presence of a truffle in the soil is the swarming of midges over its location. Insects pick up the mushroom smell and gather around in the hope of laying eggs in the fruiting body. These are the places that need to be checked first. The growing mushroom resembles in shape a round or oblong lumpy potato with a dense shell.
The weight of one mature truffle usually ranges from 0.5 to 1.2 kg. Most of them are found at a depth of 0.15-0.2 m. After being removed from the ground, it is cleaned and laid on straw or clean cloth.
Video about growing truffles at home:
Storage methods and periods
Truffles are consumed fresh. Collected fruiting bodies quickly lose their aroma, and therefore their value. You need to eat them as soon as possible; after 1-2 weeks the mushroom may completely deteriorate.
Rice is often used to store truffles; this grain removes excess moisture. Another way to store these mushrooms is to deep freeze them. Before this, the cleaned truffles are greased with oil, wrapped in foil and placed in vacuum packaging. In this state, mushrooms can be stored for up to six months. Before use, they are not defrosted, but grated.
Growing truffles as a business
High prices for truffles have always been a good incentive for entrepreneurs who dreamed of starting the artificial cultivation of these miracle mushrooms. Meanwhile, not all of their types are in high demand. Now the average price for 1 kg of truffle is about 250-300 dollars.
The most serious competitors in this market are China, which provides the most massive supply of mushrooms at a low price, as well as Australia and New Zealand, which relatively recently were able to establish artificial cultivation of mushrooms on their territories. It is thanks to the last two countries located in the Southern Hemisphere that it was possible to significantly smooth out seasonal fluctuations in demand.
Artificial cultivation of truffles can be a good business, but only with the right approach and significant initial investment. The productivity of a mushroom farm is an unpredictable value, so when making calculations it is difficult to focus on any payback period.The first harvest can be obtained no earlier than in 3 years, and not all businessmen are ready to make such long-term investments. Nevertheless, artificial cultivation of mushrooms can be a good addition to the work of, for example, a large agricultural holding as one of the areas of development.
In Russia, the demand for truffles has been stable over the past few decades. The average price of one dish made from these mushrooms in Moscow restaurants starts at 500 rubles. The wholesale price for mushrooms ranges from 500 to 2000 US dollars per 1 kg.
A short video on the topic of business development in growing truffles at home:
Conclusion
Growing truffles at home is possible, but it is associated with high costs and certain risks. But your own mushroom farm can become a completely worthy business, providing income to its owner for many years. The yield from 1 hectare of truffle oak grove can be 40-50 kg, and active fruiting continues for 30-35 years. It is not difficult to calculate that with high prices for truffles, the costs incurred over such a period of time will pay off many times over.
