It is called the "black diamond". He has no equal in price and taste. But not all gourmets can afford this expensive delicacy. Most Ukrainians, he is familiar only from films about the French cuisine or cooking show. Even experienced mushrooms do not know what this mysterious mushroom looks like - truffle.
What is it?
Truffle refers to marsupial mushrooms. Its fleshy fruit grows underground and resembles rounded potato tubers. Outwardly, they are not very attractive: dark skin can be smooth, cracked or covered with pyramidal warts. The pulp in the section resembles marble because of the peculiar pattern of alternating light and dark veins. The color of the "marble" depends on the type of fungus and can be white, black, chocolate and gray. Size ranges from walnut to large potatoes.
Truffles are very rare mushrooms, and they are not so easy to find. They grow underground at a depth of 30 cm, only old mushrooms occasionally appear above the ground. In addition, they do not grow in all forests. They need lime soil and wood, in the roots of which they will live. For "living together" truffles most often choose oak or hazel and form mycorrhiza with them, or useful cooperation. The tree feeds the mushroom with nutrients, and the mycelium, or mycelium, in turn, envelops the root and so helps it absorb moisture and mineral salts.
The royal mushrooms, as they are called, have a characteristic mushroom flavor with a nutty flavor. They exude a special pleasant aroma that is so strong that even the chefs can feel dizzy. Of them prepare independent dishes and sauces. They are served with meat and seafood. They go well with cheese, vegetables and fruits. Even the most ordinary dish, such as dumplings or a sandwich, with the addition of truffle becomes a delicacy.
Did you know? It is believed that truffles can have a psychotropic effect due to the anandamide contained in it, which is similar in effect to marijuana.
Where do mushrooms grow?
Truffles grow all over the world: in Europe, Asia, North America and North Africa. Each species has its own habitat. Black Perigord Truffle grows in oak, beech and hornbeam forests in southern France, northern Italy, in Spain and Switzerland.
Summer truffle (also black) distributed in Central Europe, Scandinavia, Central Asia, Russia and the Crimea. The deposits of summer truffle and several other species of this mushroom are found in Ukraine: in Transcarpathia, the Carpathians, in the Vinnitsa and Kiev regions, where oak and beech forests grow.
A truffle is a very rare find of a mushroom picker; you will often find white mushrooms, chanterelles, pigs, aspen mushrooms, milk mushrooms, morels, honey agaric mushrooms, and musk elk mushrooms.
Perhaps they are in other places of our country, only people do not know about it. It so happened that, out of ignorance, they fed domestic animals with these expensive exotic mushrooms. To find underground mushrooms, the old method is still used: specially trained pigs and dogs.
Pigs can smell prey for 20-25 m, but they destroy the top layer of soil and often eat the find. Therefore, dogs are more often preferred, although they need to be trained longer. You can do without these helpers, focusing on red flies that lay eggs near the truffle tubers and swarm over this place.
Is it possible to grow at home?
The question of whether it is possible to grow truffles on your own at home is relevant today for two reasons. Firstly, these are exorbitantly high prices for this delicacy product: from 1000 hryvnia to several thousand euro per kilogram. Secondly, in Ukraine, the truffle is listed in the Red Book, which means it is prohibited to collect it in the wild and sell it in our country.
White truffles impossible to breed artificially. In contrast, black species have long been cultivated in Europe and China. Therefore, creating the necessary conditions, you can get a truffle crop at home.
Did you know? Although truffles were first eaten in France, but their cultivation was begun in the southern part of the Russian empire under Peter I. Landlords grew them and sold them to the French, and they learned this much later.
Growing conditions
Growing truffles can be successful at home. This requires a suitable climate, soil and a tree that the mushroom loves.
Climate
This condition is important not so much for mushrooms as for the host tree, for example, for oak. The continental climate of Ukraine is favorable in this respect: it is rather warm and humid. Desired summer temperature is 22 ° C.
Soil preparation
- The soil should be sandy-clayey, rich in minerals such as calcium, nitrogen, iron and sulfur.
- Soil should be fertilized with humus.
- The earth should be cleared of stones and weeds and loosened.
- There should be no other myceliums in the chosen place, they will compete with each other.
- The soil pH should not be lower than 7.5.
Australian cultivation technology
What and how to do to grow fragrant truffle at home, the Australians know. Their technology remains the most successful since 1995. In a year, 1 hectare will yield 4 kg, and in 5-6 years - up to 20 kg.
This method has been successful for more than 20 years in Australia, where there has never been truffles, and in other countries. Moreover, it will be productive in Ukraine, where mushrooms and so grow in the wild. Of course, material costs and constant efforts are required, especially in the early years. But then it will all pay back, given the current cost of mushrooms.
More common mushrooms for growing are champignons.
Infection
Common hazel and stone and pedunculate oak, which are common in Ukraine, are suitable for this purpose. The seedlings of these trees are better suited for infection than young saplings, as they initially develop not the stem, but the root. Mycorrhiza will develop along with it.
For infection you need to buy mycelium of black truffle and process the seedlings for them. They are left for a couple of weeks in sterile conditions, giving mycelium an opportunity to take root. After that, seedlings are planted on a plot with prepared soil. Mycorrhiza finally survives during the year, until the shoots reach 20 cm in height, and the roots 50 cm in length. All this time you need to stick to quarantine.
Planting seedlings
Sprouts infected with mycelium truffles can be planted in open ground in late spring. The soil must be treated in advance with herbicides. ammonium glufosinate (it quickly decomposes in the ground).
Important! It is impossible to introduce fertilizers before planting sprouts, as this is detrimental to mycelium.
Each seedling should have enough space, not more than 500 pieces per hectare. It is advisable to adhere to the scheme - 5 to 4 m. The depth of the hole is not less than 75 cm, so the root of the tree will be protected from frost and pests. Water is poured into the hole, the sprout is covered with earth, compacted and watered again. Under each plant, pour mulch from forest land with last year’s leaves within a radius of 40 cm and cover this area with a film.
Truffle care
The first two years after landing need to maintain sterility of the site. For this it is necessary to fight weeds. We can not allow the appearance of the main pests - rabbits and pigs, as well as insects dangerous for fungi - weevils and black cockroaches.
Fertilizing make complex NPK-fertilizer and a small amount of micronutrient fertilizers - iron, magnesium, zinc, boron and copper. 
Important! For truffle oaks, proximity to willow, poplar, chestnut, fir, spruce, pine and lime is dangerous.
Harvesting
When it's time to collect ripe truffles - you can identify by 3 signs:
- a swarm of flies appears above the right place;
- the ground above the ripe mushroom rises;
- the grass dries in that place.
Did you know? In Italy, make-up of truffles. According to studies, the extract from these mushrooms significantly reduce deep wrinkles.
How can you try to grow a truffle with your own hands at home! But if everything is done correctly, the efforts will be rewarded: the “black diamond” on the table will delight you with unsurpassed taste and aroma, and even help you replenish your family budget.
