Truffle Tree
We now offer 2 different species of truffle inoculated oak trees. For growers in USDA Zones 7 or above we recommend Quercus ilex, the Holly Oak, as it is an excellent, long lived and gorgeous evergreen oak well adapted to the West Coast. Quercus ilex prefers dry summers. For growers in colder climates, USDA Zones 5 and above, we recommend planting Quercus robur, the English Oak. Also a very stately and long lived tree the English Oak is deciduous, very cold hardy and will support your truffle growing for many decades.
At OGW we have truffle fever. While the fruit is actually a fungus, the reward of growing your own truffles might far exceed that of any other home grown food. The result is one of the most sought after mushrooms in the world, the Black Truffle!
Truffle trees generally take 4-6 years to produce truffles and 8-10 years to reach full production. Tree spacing is 15 x 15 and most farms need to have irrigation to get the truffles. 1 Acre of truffle trees can produce 50-80 pounds. At $500-$2000 per pound you can easily expect to gross $25,000 an acre. This is not an implied guarantee but rather general truffle industry information.
Certification
This Truffle Tree seedling has been inoculated with the prized French Perigord Black Truffle (Tuber melanosporum) spores, which are necessary to form truffles when the tree reaches reproductive maturity.
- Soil preference is a loam soil with a bit of lime added
- Dig out the planting hole
- Water pot before removing seedling to make the tree comes out of the pot with roots intact.
- Gently tap the sides and massage loose the the root ball
- Place in planting hole and backfill with the native soil
- The tree should be mulched
Avoid
We do not recommend using chemical fertilizer or herbicides, and especially not fungicides with your Truffle trees which may negatively affect the soil pH and biological activity.