Truffle growing business
The business of growing truffles in Russia and other CIS countries began its development in 2000. The black truffle mycelium was brought to the Krasnodar Territory from European countries.
Under natural conditions, the truffle grows in the forests of Portugal, England and France, mushrooms are harvested in Spain and Italy. These countries are the largest exporters of the delicacy to the world market.
Truffle is a very rare mushroom with a strong, persistent odor. This aroma is not an accident, but a necessity for a truffle. To reproduce, fungal spores must pass through the intestines of an animal, insect, or human. The fruiting body of a truffle grows at a depth of 20 cm, and smell is the only way to attract animals. Due to its subtle aroma, only pigs or specially trained dogs can smell truffles.
Symbiosis of truffles with hazelnuts and oak
The difficulty of artificial cultivation of truffles is that the spores of this fungus take root only on the roots of hazel and oak. These plants have a developed root system, so large areas are needed to equip the plantation.
Unlike other mushrooms, truffle does not parasitize the root system of plants. The fruiting body absorbs moisture from the soil and gradually gives it to the roots of oak or hazelnuts, and in return receives the necessary substances. This way of growing is called symbiosis.
In the north of France, where black truffles rarely grow up to 1 cm in diameter, this growth feature is used to increase the yield of hazelnuts. Truffle naturally grows in warm climates, so in Russia it is grown only in greenhouses.
Conditions for artificial cultivation of truffles
In order to get the first harvest of truffles, three conditions must be met:
- Maintain a constant air temperature of 28 ° C and a soil temperature of 15 to 18 ° C in a greenhouse with hazelnut or oak seedlings.
- Adhere to a 5X5 m planting pattern. This distance between seedlings will allow the plant root system to develop well. Consequently, the mycelium will form more fruiting bodies.
- Water the plants that are infected with truffle mycelium regularly. Pour water directly under the root, organizing drip irrigation, otherwise the truffle mycelium will develop more slowly. By applying shallow water, you will get more hazelnuts, but the truffle yield will be less.
Hazelnut or oak seedlings infected with black truffle mycelium can be purchased online.
You will receive the first harvest of a delicious mushroom 6 years after planting a hazelnut infected with mycelium. Growing truffles is a long-term and costly business.
However, it fully justifies itself after the first harvest. For the season from 100 m2 planting area, you can harvest up to 6 kg of black truffle. The price for 1 kg of mushrooms reaches 2,000 €. For damaged mushrooms, you can get up to 300 €.