How are the truffles cultivated?
In recent years most of the legendary black Perigord Truffles harvested in France and some of the white Tube Magnatum Truffles harvested in Italy are not wild but cultivated under oak trees. Before running out to your yard and planting a truffle garden do realize this is in no way an easy or inexpensive process! The most common method of growing Truffles involves inoculating acorns or the roots of nut producing trees. First acorns are normally washed in a weak mixture of bleach and water to kill any competing fungi and bacteria. Next the acorns are sprouted in a greenhouse and kept for two years planted in a mixture of sterilized soil and minced fresh Truffles. After two years the trees can be planted outdoors and after another seven be checked for small truffles. Though the percentage of successful inoculations is small, if on the seventh year the farmer finds truffles under his trees he can expect to be well compensated for his patience. Truffles grow in proximity to trees whether in
