Truffles are underground mushrooms and are considered to be the ultimate gastronomic experience. The hazelnut trees have had their roots impregnated with the truffle spores, and the varieties chosen are both indigenous (native) and suitable for growing here (the black summer truffle is also called the English truffle!!). Other varieties like the very expensive White pregiato Alba truffle are very unlikely to grow here, which is why they are very expensive - they will only grow in Alba in Piemonte and Aqualagna in Umbria. Use freshly sliced on a variety of dishes, with pasta, risotto, polenta, eggs and potatoes, to flavour olive oil, marscarpone cheese or parmesan, and to freeze. There are producing truffle farms all over Europe, and newer ones in the USA & UK. Truffle prices reached record prices in 2003 due to a lack of availability, despite the fact there are over 100,000 registered truffle hunters in Italy !! There are probably as many truffles in the UK as Italy, but no-one really goes looking for them here and there are no truffle dogs, although there are 4 producing truffle farms!!
Black Summer Truffle Scorzone (Tuber Aestivum Vittad.) – The easiest of all truffles for artificial cultivation and Scorzone truffles with eggs are famous. You can also grate the truffle into parmesan cheese or into olive oil, and it is excellent with meats, pasta, potatoes or sauces. Walnut to orange sized truffles. A very good low/mid priced truffle (@30p per gram fresh). Harvest Jun-Sep.
Bianchetto (or Marzuolo) white truffles (Tuber Borchii Vittad.) - One of the easiest truffles to grow tolerating a range of soils from sandy to clay, and wonderful used in Frittata, mixed with mascarpone and spread onto bruschetta, grated onto pasta, risotto or polenta, and to make truffle cream sauces. Intense perfume and flavour costing £2.40 per gram fresh. Pea to apricot sized truffles. Small harvests are possible out of season, but it's main harvest period is Jan-Apr.
The plants are about 25cms tall and organically grown (but not certified organic), will last 50-70 years and need little maintenance, growing very quickly at first. The hazelnut can grow to 7m tall if left, but can be trimmed into 2m hedges and the nuts are edible. Plant either in full sun or half shade. The hazelnut will lose their green/brown leaves in the winter when dormant.
The Hazelnut bushes will start to produce truffles from about 4-6 years after planting. A typical plant will produce 50g of truffles per year after 6 years and 80-100g after 12.
The plants are tested 3 times and certified twice - firstly by the University of Aquila and then that of Perugia before being allowed for sale, to ensure quality and successful inoculation. This is a quality control so you know the product you have bought will do 'what it says on the tin', providing you give it the right growing conditions. We are a responsible company and it is very very unusual for a truffle tree company to mention their source, but, Raggi Vivai are the no.1 supplier of truffle trees in Italy and the market leaders with proven results of producing farms (which we ourselves have visited). Truffles can spread and don’t harm plants or trees.
To harvest, carefully dig around the fibrous outer roots with your fingers and a stick (no pig needed!!), taking care not to damage the plant. Brush the truffles and refrigerate for up to 14 days, washing only prior to eating. Once washed, it must be used up or frozen.
Truffles require three main conditions – 1) soil that is not compacted (like a lawned area for example) – an unused part of the garden would be ideal, 2) soil that has a PH between 6.5-8.0 (not acid soil) and 3) well drained soil.
When the trees are sent, we use a next day service (please note - they don't go next day). Don't be tempted to add manure or fuss over the tree - plant it and leave it. The more you interfere, the fewer truffles you'll get!! Remember that you may have truffles and not find them. This is how they multiply, by spreading their spores. The best way is still to use a truffle dog in season.
Just think of the price of just one truffle, or even compare a truffle tree against the price of a bay tree, and the status attached to such a plant and it’s fruits! It is actually not uncommon for a house to increase in value which has a truffle orchard or ‘tartufaio’ !! Please contact us for information and bulk pricing for truffle farming. The ultimate status symbol and sophisticated flavour. The truffle trees are available for the UK ONLY (NOT USA), whilst the plants are dormant and strictly subject to availability.
Please note that Raggi Vivai have been supplying truffle trees for over 20 years, and it takes 5-8 years for truffle production to begin, so they do have track record!!! Featured on BBC Gardeners World Dec 17th 2005 and recommended by Giorgio Locatelli, Observer Magazine 14/10/06.
(UK & Europe only) Beautifully packaged 100 gram boxes of dried mushroom spawn, impregnated onto grain, for sowing onto logs, straw or compost, depending on the variety. In ideal conditions, the button mushrooms will keep producing for upto 1 year, and the other varieties for three.
It does take some work to reach the mushrooming stage, but it's well worth it for your own, homegrown, fresh mushrooms. Many people grow their own mushrooms already, but we're hoping that more of you will, so you can enjoy recreating some delicious Italian mushroom recipies. View our spawn like dried yeast - it is dormant until activated.
Available winter 2008. Pre-order now. Mainland UK ONLY. Tuber Aestivum Vittad. - Commonley called Scorzone Truffles in Italy, black summer or English truffles. Found in Europe, but most commonley Italy, France and Spain. The easiest of all truffles for cu
Pleurotus Eryngii, or King Mushroom. This mushroom can be sown onto wet straw in dustbin sacks with a sponge in the neck of the bag held in place with an elastic band. When a white, sweet smelling mould forms, the straw can be planted out. Dried spawn sow
To complement the range of natural Soil Conditioner and organic based Fertilisers, Earthworks are supplying a Soil pH Test Kit. Use the kit to determine if your soil is acidic or alkaline and help identify the type of
PRE-ORDER WINTER 2008. Out of production until then. 4 Black summer Truffle Trees on Hazelnut Buy 4 and save......... Normally £120 for 4 of these trees, but buy 4 and save £21. Mainland UK ONLY
A new addition to the range - Pleurotus Cornucopiae or Golden Mushroom in English. For sowing onto clean straw only. For more detailed information about this process, please email or phone us. Full instructions are given with your purchase.
Pleurotus Ostreatus (Oyster mushroom). Like the Pioppino, can be sown onto straw or logs. For additional information about sowing and preparation of the mushroom spawn, please email or call us.
Mainland UK ONLY. Pair of Truffle Trees (Hazelnut) A black Summer and a white Bianchetto certified truffle tree on Hazelnut. Normally £80, but buy a pair for £65. You get two harvests - summer for the black and winter for the white, and different uses fo
Pholiota Aegerita. Usually found growing underneath Poplar trees (Pioppe), after which this mushroom gets it's name. Can be sown onto straw or logs, preferably Poplar, but any broad leafed tree log can be used. 30-40 days after sowing before the spawn is
NEW. This is a very popular mushroom and is available now. (EC ONLY - NOT USA). In Italian it is called CAPPELLONE and small Portobello mushrooms are called CRIMINI. Dried spawn sown onto grains which should be sown onto horse manure. £6.99
Cultivated (Button) Mushrooms. Many uses for this versatile funghi. First make the compost with 5kg of Horse manure compost mixed with 20% wet straw (takes about 20 days, or buy the mushroom compost from your garden centre). When you have finished harvest
Famous Japanese mushroom. Can be grown on broad leaf tree trunks or on green tree logs split and the spawn sandwiched inbetween. Much sought after variety
10 Certified black summer truffle trees on Hazelnut. Ideal to start your own mini professional truffle orchard. All truffle trees are guaranteed as having the spores on them and performance is subject to conditions. We recommend a soil test from Raggi Viv
Mainland UK ONLY - The ultimate foodie gift. A Black truffle Nero Pregiato (Norcia, Perigord, Spoleto), a White Bianchetto truffle Borchii and a black summer truffle tree. One of each for £99, instead of £115.
If you have a piece of land not doing anything, why not turn it into an investment. Many of our customers are doing just this, and reaping the benefits. Raggi vivai are the largest suppliers of truffle trees in Italy, covering 35% of the market. They have
Save £10.00 for a limited time only. Mainland UK ONLY. Tuber Borchii Vittad - Commonly known as Bianchetto or Marzuolo truffles. One of the easiest truffles to grow and found in small quantities all over Europe. Small harvests possible out of season, but
