1. Good Organic Gardening - January-February 2016

Growing truffles | GARDENING CHALLENGE
Tasmania, Victoria, the ACT, NSW and Queensland. The largest
production region is around Manjimup in WA, which has an ideal
climate for truffle production.
Truffle pioneer and grower Tim Terry from Truffle Australis in
Tasmania recommends areas in Australia within 28–43 degrees of
latitude with cool to cold winters, mild summers and reliable water.
Production cycle
Truffles take years to become productive. They thrive in well-drained
soils that are high in calcium or with added lime in areas with good
rainfall or access to irrigation. The black truffle is harvested in
autumn and early winter, while the summer truffle is harvested
later in the year.
Trees impregnated with fungal spore can take four years or
more to produce truffles. For commercial growers it can be a
further two to four years before truffles appear in commercial
quantities. As the tree grows and the truffle spore multiplies,
harvests increase.
According to Fred Harden, communications manager with the
Australian Truffle Growers Association, the harvest ranges from
truffles that weigh just a few grams to the production of several
kilograms from around a single tree.
Truffles can sell for between $1500 and $2000 a kilogram
If nothing else, you’ll get a nice
tree and maybe some hazelnuts
and currently retail for around $2.60 to $3.40 per gram.
Australia’s truffle harvest has been growing steadily since
the 1990s with 8–10 tonnes now produced annually, putting
Australia at number four in world truffle production. Production
is forecast to grow as more trufferies reach commercial
production levels.
“This level of production more than meets current local
demand, meaning truffles are also exported,” says Fred Hardin.
Black truffles
Sifting for buried treasure
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