How to grow truffles

What are truffles? 

Nope, not the chocolate! Truffles are a highly sought-after underground fungus that grows on the roots of some trees, like oaks, hazels, or beeches. 

Known for their nutty, earthy flavour, they’re a gourmet treat infused in oils or grated over pasta, risottos and scrambled eggs.   

The most common truffle in Australia is the black Périgord truffle prized for its stand-out flavour.  

Australian truffles are a big deal in culinary circles, fetching up to $3000 per kilo.  

How do you grow truffles in Australia?

Truffles are traditionally grown in places like southern France and Italy. But Australia’s cool climate spots, like parts of Tasmania, Western Australia, and Victoria, have proven themselves good for growing truffles. To grow truffles from scratch, host trees are inoculated with truffle fungi. It’s essential to source your truffle-inoculated seedlings from a reputable supplier. That way, you know the tree’s roots have been properly treated with truffle spores. Good suppliers will also give you certification for your trees.  

These trees, along with their fungi, are then carefully cultivated to grow the prized truffles. Truffles are pretty picky. They want well-drained, alkaline soil with a high pH (7.5 to 8.3). Scatter lime on your soil if you need to make it more alkaline. 

Planting your truffle tree

Pop your truffle-inoculated trees in a sunny, sheltered spot. Make sure your soil is well-drained and aerated. If you’ve got a lot of room to work with, keep other trees at least 75m away. If not, dig a trench around the seedling, at least 50cm deep, and line it with polythene to keep other roots out. 

To plant your tree: 

1. Dig a hole twice the size of the tree’s root ball. 

2. Add lime and pop the seedling on top. 

3. Fill the hole with soil. 

4. Stake the seedling and cover it with a protective polytube about one metre high. 

5. Water the tree regularly with rainwater. You want to soil moist but not waterlogged. 

How to care for your truffles

Once you’ve planted your tree, proper TLC is essential.  

• Regularly but carefully weed around the base of the tree using a hoe. Be careful not to mess with the soil too much – you don’t want to disturb the fungal networks. 

• Add mulch. Just be sure your mulch isn’t treated with fungicides. Chemicals can harm your truffles. 

• Aerate the soil with some light tilling around the base of the tree. Critical for healthy truffles. 

• Truffle needs soil that’s moist, not soggy. Always use good-quality, low-salt water.

Harvesting truffles

Harvesting is a waiting game, and patience is key. You won’t see results overnight – or even in the first few years! Truffles might start appearing after about three years, but expect to wait a bit longer (up to 10 years). 

Think your truffles might be ready? Sometimes the only hint is the scent of truffle on the breeze. Pigs used to be the go-to for digging up truffles, but these days, most truffle farmers use trained dogs. They’re less likely to gobble up the truffles themselves. 

Storing your truffles

Truffles are best eaten fresh. But if you store them properly, they’ll keep for up to two weeks. To store your truffles, put clean, dry truffles in an air-tight glass or plastic container lined with a kitchen towel. Store in your fridge and check daily, swapping out the towel and wiping away any condensation. 

If you only need to store them for a couple of days, pack them away with eggs or arborio rice. They’ll  soak up the truffle’s aroma for a gourmet boost to your next meal.  

Truffles: Are they worth it? 

If you’ve got the time and patience, truffles are absolutely worth it. Truffle farming isn’t quick or simple, but if you stick with it, the reward will be satisfying and genuinely impressive (and delicious!).