Grow truffles at home

Truffles are a renowned delicacy that is admired by gourmets around the world. The unusual taste and complexity of cultivation make these mushrooms a rare and valuable product, the cultivation of which promises a decent profit. If you are thinking of a new business, we suggest you consider growing truffles at home.

Choosing a landing site

The natural habitat for truffles is the southern regions of Europe, where the climate is not too hot and at the same time not too humid. Since these mushrooms are extremely demanding on the environment, only residents of the southern regions can afford to cultivate truffles in the open field in Russia or Ukraine.

Good places to plant truffles include the following:

• open ground. As mentioned above, this option is only suitable for regions with a constantly warm climate, since during the cold season there is a high risk of culture death. For cultivation, a forest belt with deciduous trees - oak, walnut, beech is preferable;
• greenhouse. A mushroom greenhouse can provide ideal micro and macroflora all year round. However, setting up a greenhouse will require a significant financial investment, which can only be justified if you plan to grow truffles as a business. Otherwise, spending on a heating, ventilation, air humidification system and expensive soil will not pay off;
• in the basement. The most frequently suggested option for the query “how to grow a truffle at home”. The basement is good because you do not need to spend money on its construction, and it does not depend on the influence of natural phenomena - wind, hail, snow. However, his equipment will also cost a pretty penny. Moreover, the basement will require additional disinfection and treatment with antibacterial substances.

The planting site, regardless of geographical location, must contain soil, the water balance of which is at the border of neutral and alkaline. In addition, the soil should be saturated with air, humus and calcium. The substrate should not contain stones, large irregularities. It must be treated for parasites and diseases.

As well as simpler representatives of the species - oyster mushrooms and champignons - truffles do not like strong winds, active sun and cold weather. The optimum temperature for breeding is + 20-22 degrees. Animals should not be allowed near the site, other flowers, trees and shrubs should not grow there.

Landing features

Modern mushroom pickers cultivate three main varieties of gourmet mushrooms: white, black and Chinese. Each of them can be found in natural conditions and try to grow planting material from the mycelium on their own.

Truffles grow on oaks and beeches. You can grow a crop on the sawdust of trees or on their root system.The first method is easier because it is easier to work with at home.

Shredded trees are infected with mycelium and placed in a sterile, warm place until mycorrhiza forms - the union of the spores of the fungus and the tree. When the mycorrhiza has taken root, it can be used for planting. However, this will not happen earlier than in a year.

An easier option would be to buy ready-made planting material from a trusted supplier. Such material is often sold already in a substrate, which is planted in the soil in small handfuls. For this, holes are dug 25–75 cm deep at a distance of 2 square meters. m apart. Before planting, water is poured into the hole, a layer of humus is laid, and a layer of hay or sawdust (up to 200 mm thick) is placed on top of the mycelium.

It is better to plant the future mushroom in open ground in late spring or early summer, when there will be no frost guaranteed. You can plant mycelium in the basement and greenhouse at any time of the year.

Care and growing rules

Indoor truffles can benefit from supplements containing copper, boron, zinc, calcium and iron. Nitrogen, phosphate and potassium fertilizers will not be superfluous. In a forest area, top dressing is best done not in the place of planting of the mushroom, but in the ground near the tree on which the truffle grows.

This culture does not tolerate weeds, fallen and dry foliage, other plants, except for those useful to it, on the site. Poplar, spruce and chestnut are especially negative for it. Also, the culture does not tolerate interaction with animals, in particular pigs, which are considered "hunters" for truffles.

In winter, plants in open ground are mulched to protect the planting site from freezing as much as possible. In the spring, the land should be treated against parasites and pests.

Harvesting

It takes about 5 years to form the crop, during which a fruit with a dense, embossed rounded shell is formed underground at a depth of 20–45 cm. It is the fruit part that is eaten.

During harvesting, the mushrooms are carefully dug up. Any damage to the fruit negatively affects not only the appearance (the mushroom can rot), but also the taste. To avoid crop losses, dig up the truffles carefully and place them on a flat surface with a layer of soft straw.

The average weight of a mature mushroom is 500–1200 g, and the total weight of the crop can exceed 9 kg.

Is it possible to do a truffle business

Since growing a truffle at home is an energy-intensive process, farmers want reimbursement as soon as possible. However, the duration of the ripening of the culture and certain difficulties in growing do not make it possible to get a quick profit.

Nevertheless, income can be almost 300% of the deposit amount. Truffles have been in constant demand on the Russian market for the last 20 years. Currently, the average price for 1 kg of mushroom is 56 thousand rubles. The average price in a Moscow restaurant for a truffle dish varies in the range of 500-1000 rubles.

In addition to restaurants, you can offer your products to manufacturers of spices. The strong aroma of this mushroom is also felt in truffle oil, for the manufacture of which manufacturers buy fruits in bulk.

Taking into account the development trends of modern restaurant cuisine, truffle growing can become not only profitable, but also a fashionable business.

Video "How to grow a truffle"

Learn how to grow a truffle yourself in this video.

This mushroom is recognized as a world delicacy. The price for 1 kg ranges from several thousand dollars. Many people have never been able to taste truffle mushrooms in their entire lives.

As you know, everything that grows in the earth under natural conditions can be grown independently if favorable conditions are created. Growing king mushrooms is not easy, you need not only start-up capital, but also enough space to grow truffles.If the process improves, then in 1-2 years you can develop your own business, which brings good income. Since the price of a truffle is very high, you can quickly recoup your investment.

About the secret of the truffle

This mushroom has many secrets. First, even those people who collect truffles cannot observe their growth. The fact is that the "life" of the fungus takes place under a layer of earth (depth of about 20 cm) and depends on shrubs and trees. It feeds on the roots of these plants, giving them some of the nutrients. The misconception of many that the truffle is a parasite, on the contrary, the fungus envelops the root system of the tree with its mycelium. Thus, thanks to fungi, plant roots receive more moisture and will be under reliable protection from harmful microorganisms. This coexistence of two plants is called symbiosis.

The second secret is reproduction. If we compare this process with ordinary mushrooms, then everything is clear: spores are carried through the air or through water. But the spores of royal mushrooms spread through the stomachs of animals. It turns out that after passing through the body of a wild boar, spores acquire the ability to germinate, but only in a convenient place for it - next to some trees. In order for a wild animal to find a mushroom, nature has provided for this moment too - the truffle has a delicate aroma. By the way, not every mushroom smells good. Most mushrooms thin out a rather unpleasant odor, similar to the "aroma" of spoiled fish or rotten onions. And only some varieties of truffles, including the royal (Perigorsk), thin out the pleasant aroma.

Of all the known types of truffles, only black ones have been artificially grown. They are also called French, because France is the leader in truffle cultivation. A favorable place - specially planted oak groves or plantings. Truffle sizes can range from a small, walnut-sized to a medium-sized apple. Larger specimens, about 1 kg, were also found in nature.

Truffle photo:

What is the use

Incredibly, culinary experts from many countries of the world are ready to pay several thousand dollars for 1 kg! Why is truffle so overwhelmingly popular?

There are about 10 types of mushrooms suitable for human consumption. The most valuable are the black truffle (Perigord or Italian), winter and Piedmontese.

Outwardly, the truffle is somewhat similar to a potato, the pulp of the mushroom has a reddish tint. When it reaches maturity, the flesh will turn black and white streaks will be visible in the cut. It is because of its subtle aroma that the black truffle is considered the most valuable among culinary specialists. Hundreds of different gourmet dishes can be prepared from the mushroom. It is very important to preserve the delicate flavor of the truffle, so in most cases, chefs add a small portion of the raw mushroom to the finished dish. If you do everything according to the rules, then you can appreciate the unique properties of the truffle.

The calorie content of royal mushroom is low, there are only 24 kcal per 100 g. The mushroom goes well with cheese, fruit and meat. It can also be served as a separate dish with a white creamy sauce. It tastes like roasted seeds or walnuts.

You can talk about the benefits of a truffle for hours - it is a source of vitamins of group B, PP and C. Truffle is of particular value for adolescents, pregnant and lactating women. In addition, regular consumption of Perigord truffle will prolong youth, preserve beauty and increase sexual activity.

How to grow a truffle

They have been trying to breed the royal mushroom for a long time in artificial conditions. Back in the 60s of the 19th century, active work was carried out in this direction. The breeders have been waiting for the first results for more than 10 years! Nobody gave any guarantees.

In those places that were not rich in black soil, they had to go to the trick and breed truffles indoors.For these purposes, spacious basement rooms were allocated, suitable trees were taken, crushed to the state of sawdust, moistened with a special solution with nutrients, and soil with mycelium was added. Such artificial breeding did not always give a positive result.

A little later, in France, scientists managed to conduct another experiment on breeding black truffles. In the laboratory, young oak trees were grown with an artificially bred truffle. As soon as the mushrooms took root with the trees, the "couple" were moved into the ground and the yield was monitored. Thanks to this technology, at the beginning of the 20th century, the French managed to collect almost 1000 tons of mushrooms a year.

At present, the technology developed by scientists from Australia is considered effective, about 100 kg of crop can be obtained from 1 hectare.

Growing truffles at home

Growing mushrooms on your own is a whole art. It is troublesome and costly business. It is necessary to make large investments and wait a long time for the harvest.

To grow truffles at home, you need to allocate a large plantation (if you plan to grow mushrooms in the open air in a natural way) or a spacious basement. Mushrooms do not tolerate temperature fluctuations, therefore, in order to get a harvest, the optimal air temperature should be + 22 ° C.

Consider 2 options for growing royal mushrooms.

Soil contamination with mycelium

For these purposes, you will need the following:

1. Purchase truffle mycelium (on a pad or substrate).
2. Prepare branches, leaves (fallen) from oak, walnut or beech, moss.
3. Shovel.
4. Water.
5. Soil for truffles or peat substrate for growing indoor plants.
6. Planting is best done in the warm season - at the end of May or June. Not far from the selected tree (the age of the trees is 5-10 years), you need to make several holes (3-4 will be enough), the depth of the hole is 20 cm, the diameter is 10 cm.
7. Put the prepared soil in half of each hole, and on top of it - the required amount of mycelium. Then the holes are filled to the brim with the remaining soil. It needs to be tamped very tightly.
8. Now, very carefully, 10 liters must be poured into each well. settled water. Rainwater can also be used for irrigation.
9. On top, you need to lay the prepared foliage, moss and branches and water again abundantly with water, but already around each hole.

After 3, or even 5 years, the first harvest should be expected. It will depend on weather conditions. By the way, you need to ensure that the soil is always moist and in no case should it dry out. With the onset of cold weather, the planting sites need to be insulated with an additional layer of leaves.

A few years later, at the end of August, you can count on the first truffle harvest. It will reach sizes from 40 to 70 g and acquire a delicate aroma. Every year, 5-7 mushrooms can be collected from each hole.

Planting spore-infested seedlings

This method of growing truffles is considered more efficient, although it requires costs: both material and time.

First, sprouts of oak or hazel are taken, which are infected with the mycelium of the black fungus. They are kept in "quarantine" for several weeks in order to prevent the death of the mycelium. Seedlings must be kept in sterile conditions. If all the requirements are met, then the mycelium takes root and after that the seedlings can be planted in the nursery.

For the first few months, they must be kept in "quarantine" conditions. Even the maintenance personnel are obliged to observe hygiene rules so as not to infect young oak trees with harmful microorganisms.

After 12 months, we can talk about the complete survival of the seedlings. During this period, they should grow up to 20 cm. When breeding black truffles, it is very important to use sprouts, not young oaks, in which case good results can be achieved. By the way, on some farms, the replanting method is practiced, when a truffle is planted to oak sprouts, next to an adult tree.

How to choose a suitable place, professional advice:

• monitor the acidity of the soil, ideally so that the pH does not exceed 7.9 and does not fall below 7.5;
• choose an aerated soil with sufficient calcium and humus. Also, foreign inclusions and stones should not be present in it. Before planting seedlings, you need to thoroughly mechanically process the soil;
• pay attention to a very important detail: no other microorganisms (fungal spores) should be present in your soil;
• after planting within 2 years, you need to get rid of weeds;
• the average daily temperature in the warm season is from 16.5 to 22 ° C;
• to make it easier to carry out tillage, choose a non-embossed area.

How to land

Planting oak seedlings infected with black truffle mycelium is carried out in the spring, when the threat of frost has passed. The soil must be well prepared and all weeds removed. It is impossible to use chemicals to kill weeds, since even a small part of them in the soil can lead to the death of the mycelium.

The use of herbicides with ammonium gluphosphate is allowed, but only in small quantities and in case of urgent need. This substance decomposes quickly in the soil.

Planting is carried out according to a certain scheme, taking into account the fact that no more than 500 oak trees per 1 hectare. Immediately before planting, the soil cannot be fertilized, this can lead to the death of the mycelium of the royal mushroom.

It should also be borne in mind that when transplanting, there is a high risk of damage to the root system, therefore, oaks are first planted in the prepared hole, a small amount of water is poured, the seedling is densely covered with soil and again abundantly watered. Planting depth - 75 cm to protect mushrooms from frost and other adverse weather conditions. In addition, mulching is done near the tree (from a layer of leaves, moss and branches). If the plants are young, it is better to protect them with plastic wrap.

Since the truffle is an ectomycorrhizal fungus (the formation of mycorrhiza on the root system), the area of ​​the tree for development should be at least 20 m2. Along with the oak, it is allowed to grow other companion trees: citrus, olive trees. You cannot plant poplar, chestnut, pine, spruce and fir next to oak trees.

About pest control and harvesting

Since pigs and rabbits are the main danger to truffles, the area where the Perigord mushroom is grown must be fenced off. Cockroaches and weevils also pose a serious threat to the future harvest.

The appearance of fungi (after a few years) can be recognized by the small tubercles that appear on the soil. The body of the mushroom is in the ground, the depth is about 20 cm. The weight of one specimen is from 0.5 to 1 kg. The black truffle has a round or oblong shape. The color of the mushroom is black and the "skin" is hard.

Most of the crop can be located practically on the soil surface. In order not to disrupt the ripening process, it is important to sprinkle such places with sifted sand. By the way, the fact that the mushroom is close to the surface can be judged by the flies and midges - if there are a lot of them in this place, then it's time to harvest.

To search for royal mushrooms, specially trained dogs are used (they are watered with milk with the addition of mushroom broth, and later they are trained with a stick grated with truffle) and pigs. You need to dig out the truffle exclusively by hand with small spatulas.

Growing royal truffles is troublesome, but due to the high cost of mushrooms, it is very profitable. There are many valuable mushroom farms in the world. You can find lands even in places where these mushrooms have never grown. So it is quite possible to grow truffles in artificial conditions, especially since the yield on such farms will be several times higher than in nature.

For the intricacies of growing truffles, see this video:

Food production is an activity, the results of which are always in demand. And this is not surprising, because people are ready to pay constantly for the opportunity to eat delicious and natural food.

Those who are ready to devote themselves to the production of farm products should probably pay attention to such a rare idea of ​​an agricultural business in our country as the cultivation of truffles. How to grow a truffle in Russian natural conditions and how profitable can the production of this delicacy be?

"Golden mushroom". Is a truffle expensive?

They are not ready to pay as much for any mushroom that exists in the world as for a truffle: the price for 1 kg varies from 500 to 5000 dollars.

Moreover, it is not uncommon abroad to sell truffles as if they were works of art. Depending on the variety, quality, weight and other parameters, the price for one "golden mushroom" can reach an obscenely high mark of several thousand euros.

Of course, homemade truffles have little chance of being traded. And the price for them is significantly lower than for a mushroom that has grown in its natural environment. Restaurants, whose menus include dishes from the "golden mushroom", willingly buy up truffles grown on plantations. The price for 1 kg of the product does not scare them.

What truffle is in demand

In fact, there are many types of mushroom. But not everyone is good for food. In cooking, only two types are used. White, aka Piedmont, is the rarest and most valuable. It grows mainly in Italy, and specifically in the Piedmont region, which gave the name to the species. The mushroom has a delicate, delicate aroma and delicious taste. Unfortunately, these truffles cannot be grown at home.

Another type is black, or, as it is also called, the Perigord truffle. The homeland of the mushroom is the eponymous French region. Due to the fact that the black truffle is not as capricious as the white one, and lends itself to cultivation in a plantation, the Perigord truffle grows in many European countries, as well as in Russia and Ukraine.

Besides these two, there are other edible species. For example, Chinese or summer. But black is the most suitable for plantations. Therefore, when they talk about how to grow a truffle, they usually mean the Perigord view.

We grow truffles in Russia. Conditions for harvesting

Several centuries of observation and collection of truffles allowed to derive a formula for the necessary conditions for the successful growth of truffles on plantations. Truffle growing technology is a rather complicated, costly and, most importantly, a long process. It will take at least 5 years of careful farm maintenance to get the first crop. What you need to know about how to grow a truffle? First of all, in order for a capricious delicacy to take root and begin to grow, you need:

• suitable climate and landing terrain;
• favorable soil (ground);
• mycorrhiza.

Climatic and relief features

A moderate warm climate and a stable low rainfall are the main climatic requirements of a truffle. The delicate mushroom does not tolerate extreme heat or prolonged cold weather.

Where and how to grow a truffle in our country? The middle zone of Russia is well suited for production - sunny and not too hot summers, spring rains and warm autumn contribute to the excellent growth of a delicious mushroom.

If the lease of the land plot is not planned, it is quite possible to grow the truffle in the basement. In this case, the room should be sufficiently spacious, with moderate humidity and a stable temperature of about +22 degrees.

Soil for the truffle farm

The requirements for the soil in which the truffles will grow are no less high. A laboratory analysis will be required for the saturation of the soil with nutrients, nitrogen, carbon, lime, calcium. Also, the surface of the soil should not be subject to water erosion and be at an angle of no more than 15 degrees.The height of the fertile soil layer is required at least 30 cm.

Before planting, the acid-base balance of the truffle soil must be checked. This can be done with two simple tests. A little soil taken from the site of the proposed plantation should be added to a container of white vinegar. If the reaction is a faint hiss of the solution, this indicates too high a level of acidity. Another test is carried out with litmus paper, which simply needs to be immersed in the ground. The paper should turn blue. The absence of such a reaction also means that the alkali level is insufficient. In both cases, the alkaline level of the site needs to be increased by gradually adding lime.

Mycorrhiza and planting seedlings

The symbiosis of the roots of the partner tree and the truffle is called mycorrhiza. The mushroom grows underground, on the roots of a tree, in families of 5-7 truffles. The tree feeds its "neighbors" with everything necessary for growth: carbohydrates, amino acids, vitamins and other set of substances that affect the taste properties of the mushroom. But the truffle does not parasitize either - the symbiosis helps the tree to be saturated with minerals and phosphorus.

Planting the mycelium, the seed material of the fungus, takes place in several stages.

It is important to know that seedlings with mycorrhiza of the fungus are planted in open ground. Ready-made seedlings infected with truffle mycelium can simply be bought. And to create mycorrhiza on your own, you will need seedlings of partner trees and soil from the natural habitat of the truffle, infected with mycelium. Having infected the rhizome with truffle mycelium, the seedling must be kept in absolutely sterile conditions for at least two weeks. And only after quarantine, the seedling can be planted in open soil. This is done like this:

• A small amount of water is poured into the prepared holes about 70 cm deep, after which a tree with mycorrhiza is planted and sprinkled with earth.
• It is required to create a protective layer around the hole in a radius of 40 cm. This can be a layer of garden film, forest foliage and branches, straw.
• Important: it is unacceptable to plant trees too close to each other. The optimal planting is 5 by 4 m, so no more than 500 mycorrhizal seedlings will be needed per 1 hectare.
• Before planting, you do not need to additionally use fertilizers so as not to harm the mycelium.

After planting a seedling, mycorrhiza takes a whole year to gain a foothold. After that, the truffle will firmly and finally take root on the root.

Further care takes place in this way: it is required to remove the weeds around the planting, do not forget to loosen in the spring and regularly water the trees with a drip method. Cracks that may form in the soil must be covered with sand.

The entire growth period of seedlings must be protected from rodents, rabbits and pests. In addition, along with allied trees, there may be plants on the site, next to which a capricious delicacy cannot grow. Such trees need to be removed.

What trees are required to grow truffles

The ideal partner for mycorrhiza is oak. But trees such as olive, hazel, sequoia, beech, hornbeam, or any kind of citrus may also work.

Important: the truffle absolutely does not tolerate willow, poplar, spruce, chestnut, fir! These trees should not be on the territory of the plantation.

How do I find a crop?

Cultivated truffles at home ripen from early to late autumn, and the amount of mushrooms that can be harvested in one such period is roughly 10 or 15 kg per hectare.

Truffle differs from other fruits of the earth in that it is not enough to plant and grow it. This mushroom still has to be found - the crop can hide at a depth of about 30 cm underground. Better, of course, while waiting for the first truffles to purchase a specially trained animal (dog or pig) that can smell the delicacy. But if there is no such assistant in the household, there are several signs by which you can find a family of truffles:

• The smell of a ripe truffle family invariably attracts insects. For this reason, a large number of midges always hover over the place where the mushrooms have "lurked".
• The grass growing over the truffle dies and dries up by the time the mushroom ripens.
• The ground above the truffle is slightly raised.

How to store harvested mushrooms correctly

Undoubtedly, the best product is freshly cut, that is, one that was harvested no more than a day ago. However, if the realization of a truffle or the preparation of a dish from these delicacies is possible a little later, in order to preserve all the taste and nutritional properties of the mushroom, the following storage rules must be observed:

• truffles should always be stored without clearing from the ground, because it, like a natural container, will save the cut mushroom from the destructive action of microorganisms and the loss of its natural delicate taste;
• cool storage temperature (refrigerator);
• professional chefs advise this method of preserving the natural moisture of the truffle: wrap the unpeeled mushroom in parchment paper and place it in a container with dry rice.

So, having understood in more detail how truffle mushrooms grow and what conditions need to be created for this, we can conclude that the process of their production is incredibly long and costly. Nevertheless, plantations for the cultivation of this delicacy are not only common in European countries, but are also gradually gaining momentum in Russia. The explanation is simple: this business is profitable, no matter what. A truffle, once planted, bears fruit for a very long time, up to 30 years. And given the prices and high demand, we can expect that all investments will pay off already in the first fruitful years.

Growing truffles can generate a lot of income if you are patient and provide the right conditions. It is quite possible to create optimal climatic and soil parameters artificially. The main thing is to get acquainted in detail with the technology of how to grow a truffle.

About truffle

Delicacy products are very expensive and therefore profitable to grow. Truffle is highly regarded all over the world. Gourmets appreciate these mushrooms for their unusual aroma. It grows in warm countries - Portugal, France, Italy. Sometimes the mushroom can be found in Russia in the forests where oak or beech grows. The general character of the genus of truffles lies in their property of underground growth. It forms underground to a depth of 30 cm, so it is difficult to find it. Pigs and trained dogs are good at this task.

The truffle looks like a shriveled potato, ranging in size from a quail egg to a large apple. The color of the mushroom depends on the variety. It tastes like walnuts or roasted sunflower seeds. It leaves behind a pleasant aftertaste.

Varieties of truffles

In our climate, it is difficult to create optimal conditions for the artificial cultivation of mushrooms, but some businessmen manage to do this. Those interested in the truffle growing business need to prepare for a number of difficulties.

Is it profitable to grow truffles?

Growing truffles at home is completely different from growing ordinary mushrooms.

A person who decides to take up this business will face the following difficulties:

• the presence of a large start-up capital. You will need to purchase seed material and rent a land plot;
• search for a supplier of quality material. It is rather difficult to find them. To properly deal with this issue, you will have to learn how to identify the unusable mycelium;
• long payback period. The first crop can be harvested in about 5 years. All this time you will have to invest effort and money without any return.

These disadvantages are covered by the only advantage - the high cost of the truffle. It is in the range of 500-2000 euros per 1 kg. In Russia, competition in this niche is minimal, so the whole truffle is bought at an inflated price abroad. 15 kg of mushrooms can be harvested from 1 hectare.

Sale of truffles

Where to grow?

1. Greenhouse... For cultivation, a greenhouse is being erected, in which it is necessary to maintain the correct microclimate for the growth of mushrooms all year round. Thermostats are purchased to saturate and warm the air and soil.
2. Open ground. Such cultivation is appropriate for the southern regions of Russia. It allows you to create natural conditions. A land plot is required, preferably located in a wooded area.
3. Basement. It is good because you do not need to spend money on construction. But the basement equipment will take a lot of money. It needs to be treated with antibacterial drugs and disinfected.

Growing site parameters

Growing site parameters
The right planting site allows you to grow tasty and quality mushrooms.

The following requirements are imposed on him:

• soil pH level - 7.5-7.9;
• the presence of substances in the soil - calcium, humus, nitrogen, calcium, carbon;
• the presence of weeds and other fungi - absent;
• climate characteristic - low humidity, stable temperature;
• the characteristic of the site is calm and shaded;
• the slope of the site is 15 degrees;
• temperature - 16.5-22 ° С;
• the depth of the fertile layer is 10-30 cm;
• soil moisture - more than 70%

Truffle harvest

The main factor is the presence of trees, since with their roots the truffle will enter into symbiosis and form mycorrhiza. As a result of this interaction, the mushroom will receive all the nutrients for development. The site must be flat and located at a distance of 100-1000 m above sea level. The optimal parameter is 200-500 m. Truffle does not grow in mountainous and lowland areas.

The quality of the soil plays an important role in the cultivation. It must be resistant to water erosion. If the soil is acidic, then it is limed. It is better to choose chernozem soil. Sandy loam soil is fertilized before planting. It is good if nettle grew in front of the truffle on the site, since it saturates the ground with the necessary substances.

Buying mycelium and infesting tree roots

Mycelium should be purchased from specialized stores or from trusted suppliers. To infect one seedling, you will need 100 g of dry or 150 g of fresh mycelium. The approximate cost of this amount of material ranges between 500 and 1500 rubles.

Each truffle variety has its own specific requirements for growing conditions, so you need to carefully study them before starting a business. The easiest way is to artificially grow a black truffle.

Option of dry mycelium for growing mattresses

It is easier to infect an adult tree, but in this case, the mycelium rarely takes root. More often the roots of seedlings are subject to processing. It is recommended to choose common hazel or stone oak with a height of 30-50 cm for this purpose.

First, the root system is processed in a container with a composition of peat and mycelium in liquid form. The trees are kept in a clean room for two weeks. Before entering it, you need to disinfect your clothes and hands.

After the trees are planted in the ground, where the roots of the mycelium will grow throughout the year. If you don't want to bother with this, then you can immediately purchase grafted seedlings. Young seedlings can be grown independently from acorns that grew in the same area as truffles.
The trees are planted in the spring in warm and calcareous soil. The depth of the holes is about 75 cm. After being placed in them, the plant is watered and covered. The area around the seedling is mulched within a radius of 40 cm. The average planting density is 500 plants per hectare.

Planting mycelium in the ground

To infect the soil with mycelium, the seed is purchased in a substrate or on a substrate. It is necessary to prepare equipment, soil and compost for planting. The best time to plant a truffle is between May and August. The mycelium takes root well when the weather is stable and warm and there is no night frost.

The black truffle is planted in the ground to a depth of 20-60 cm according to the scheme 2 by 2 m.It is recommended to ask the seller how to dig a hole deeply, as it depends on the specific type of mycelium. In wooded areas, deepening occurs along the perimeter of the near-stem circle. 3-4 holes with a diameter of 10 cm are made there.

The landing site is cleared of weeds and foreign objects, and then loosened. It is convenient to remove a large number of weeds with a herbicide with components that promote rapid decomposition. When planting a truffle, the hole is pre-filled with water and fertilized with compost. Seed material is placed on the prepared pillow. It is covered with earth, tamped tightly and re-watered with 10 liters of water.

Often, special preparations are used for watering. This is especially true for greenhouse plantings, since it is more difficult to achieve natural conditions for the growth of truffles there. The planting site is mulched with sawdust or straw to a thickness of 15-20 cm and covered with polyethylene.

How to grow a truffle in a greenhouse

First of all, you need to create a nutrient medium.

This will require providing three layers:

• land taken from a forest with deciduous trees;
• fertilizer solution;
• oak sawdust.

Fertilizing the soil in the greenhouse

After building a greenhouse, purchasing mycelium and preparing the environment, you can plant:

1. The soil is sieved to oxygenate and remove stones.
2. Check the pH level of the culture medium.
3. The beds are covered with a layer of sawdust.
4. The mycelium is mixed with a fertilized layer of soil.
5. The mass is placed on sawdust and allowed to wait for 1 month.

During germination, it is important to maintain a certain level of moisture in the soil and weed the ridges. The first harvest may appear in a year, but it will be insignificant. A normal harvest will appear only in 3-4 years, and in the next years its volume will grow.

Planting care

1. Regular fertilizing of the soil with NPK fertilizers and substrates with copper, zinc, boron, magnesium and iron. It is necessary to feed the trees themselves if planting was carried out in a forest area.
2. Protecting the truffle planting site from pigs and rabbits that might dig them up.
3. Protection of trees from pests - cockroaches and weevils.
4. Getting rid of the site from weeds and other vegetation. The use of herbicides is allowed.

In a few years, the weeds will disappear from the site by themselves. Every spring, the soil is loosened, and the resulting cracks are filled up. The soil must be protected from drying out, since the mycelium dies from lack of moisture. To do this, mulching is carried out, and during drought, drip irrigation is provided.

Harvesting

Small bumps on the surface of the earth will tell about the time for harvesting. The body of the mushroom is approximately 20 cm deep and weighs 0.5-1 kg. The black truffle is oblong, hard and dark in color.

Black truffles

Sometimes a truffle can protrude almost to the very surface. To make the mushroom mature better, sprinkle it with sifted sand. If there are truffle gnats above some place, then an adult truffle is located there.

Specialists dig up mushrooms at night, as their smell is exacerbated at this time. Carefully dig out the truffle with a small spatula. Damaged mushrooms are sold at an order of magnitude cheaper. One place gives approximately 6 mushrooms. The more time the mycelium grows, the larger the size of the circles and the number of fruits.

Sales channels

Growing truffles as a business provides a stable income. There will be no problems with the sale of mushrooms. Even artificially grown truffles are readily sold by restaurants. The investment will pay off immediately after the first harvest. Truffles are sold only in elite restaurants, the menu of which contains dishes with such an ingredient.

Restaurant dish with truffle

A good option to implement is to create your own online store. The maximum profit can be obtained by placing products on an online auction.

How to store a truffle

Many who are interested in the question of whether it is possible to feast on fresh mushrooms all year round will have to be disappointed - due to the short shelf life, this happens only during the harvest period. The mushroom is wrapped in soft paper and stored in the refrigerator. The duration of such storage should not exceed 14 days. The paper is changed daily.

For long-term preservation, the mushroom is canned or frozen. During transportation, it is covered with rice or poured with olive oil. This keeps it fresh for as long as possible.

The soil will bear fruit for about 30 years. To expand the business, you can buy new plantations every year, which will bring great profits in the future. During this, it is necessary to monitor the level of value of the truffle on the world market.