Can you think of a more wonderful, natural and satisfying way of reducing that C02 stuff than planting lots and lots of trees?
Well, how about planting lots of trees and then enjoying one of the rarest, most expensive foods in the world? We’re talking ‘Truffles’ here!
Okay, it’s not quite that easy but it is a lot easier than you may think.
We have Hazel (Corylus avellena) and the English Oak (Quercus robur) both of which have been carefully inoculated to ensure the growth of Summer Truffles (Tuber aestivum var. uncinatum.)
We also have Winter Truffle (Tuber melanosporum) on an Evergreen Oak (Quercus ilex) for our customers in Southern England who should enjoy a slightly warmer climate.
The Hazel Truffle Tree
It provides nuts in September (did you know they are called ‘Filberts’?) and brightens the dullest February days with its catkins, while its leaves are one of the first signs of spring and are usually the last to fall in the Autumn.
But it’s not just a pretty face!
Hazel is planted as hedging, or for windbreaks and the coppiced wood has been used for centuries for many, many things.
Weaved into baskets, made into hurdles, used for ‘wattle and daub’ houses (not to mention holding down thatch), carved into walking sticks and shepherd’s crooks and a Druid simply would not be seen without his hickory staff!
Another good thing about the native Hazel – it’s just not that fussy where you put it. Clay or loamy, exposed or comfy cosy, mildly acidic, alkaline or neutral soil – the tough old Hazel will just get on with growing.
The only thing the Hazel does like is an alkaline (limey) soil, it will help you to produce truffles as quickly as possible.
Unless you coppice them, they will probably grow to about 30’, with about a 9’ spread.
To harvest your truffles, you may need to wait 4- 5 years, although the “brule” (this is a bare looking area around the base of the tree which shows that truffles are on their way) can be seen in less than a year.
All good things come to those who wait!
The English Oak Truffle Trees
Who can’t remember stories of Francis Drake’s Golden Hind then, after that little trip, he and John Hawkins with their ‘little’ ships taking on the might of the Armada?
Or tales of Charles hiding in a huge, enveloping tree, and the cannon balls that bounced off the sturdy timbers of Nelsons fleet?
The whole of British history would be different without this wonderful tree, some of which have seen over a thousand years of these islands’ history.
No wonder the Royal Navy’s anthem is ‘Hearts of Oak’!
By planting one of these majestic truffle trees, you could be enriching the landscape for centuries to come.
‘Enriching’ doesn’t just mean your grandchildren’s, grandchildren will enjoy a beautiful everchanging Oak, although they will. It means countless generations of wildlife will have a home, food and shelter through the Oak’s acorns, leaves, flowers, branches and bark.
Acorns will only be really abundant when your Oak starts maturing, but you could have had lots of Truffles by then!
The flowers appear in early May, before the leaves are fully formed. A wonderful sign that summers on it’s way! There are probably over four hundred insects living in an English Oak tree. Then, think of all those birds that come to visit this giant ‘larder’.
As you may have gathered, we love the English Oak.
The Oak is a BIG tree, growing eventually to well over 100 feet or more with a 40 foot ‘spread’ so don’t plant it too close to the house (or your neighbours!)
You can pollard it though, the best time is late winter, and its pollarded truffle trees that will live longest.
It’s not that fussy, clay or loam and grows in exposed places and it does need quite a lot of water so wet ground – although not permanently boggy – can be suitable.
The Holm Oak Truffle Trees
Our other Oak is a bit of an exotic, with bit of Latin temperament, and is much more bashful about shedding its leaves – in fact it’s an evergreen.
The Holm Oak, the Holly Oak, the Evergreen Oak take your pick really, they’re all Quercus ilex – a beautiful tree, growing to about 60 – 70’ if left to get on with it.
However, it can be trained and shaped into a size best suited for your garden.
In fact, it can be planted as and trimmed into, a hedge which can form a lovely wind break.
(It’s ideal protection from sea breezes as it does not mind salty winds a bit.)
It does shed its leaves (which when the tree is young are a bit prickly like holly) but only every two years, normally around May.
The new leaves are often a silvery grey and there may even be a few days around this time when the whole tree looks a rich golden brown because of the catkins, which will eventually develop into acorns.
Although you will not have to wait as long for acorns as you would for the English Oak, the Holm Oak has to grow up a bit before it starts producing its young. It may not harbour as much wildlife as our native oak – few trees do – but it still is a great boon to many creatures, and the acorns are considered edible. We’ve never tried them but you can buy them to be toasted, or to be made into flour, in many Mediterranean markets.
(In Spain there is a special ham “Jamon Serrano” made from pigs fed on these acorns – it’s hugely expensive, but you may be able to afford it when you get some free truffles!)
The ‘Holm’ is a little bit fussier than our Indigenous Oaks and likes well-drained positions. However, it does do well in any location which does not become waterlogged, although with a preference, as with our other trees, for alkaline soil, around a pH 7-8 is ideal.
If your soil tends towards the acid, then throw in some lime into the hole or then again filling it with our Biohumus will create an ideal environment.
All of these trees, so full of ‘truffle potential’, would make such lovely presents: truly unique gifts that really will last a lifetime!
Nature’s Natural Cycle is so clearly seen in the world of a tree and how much do we depend on that world?
Our truffle trees will arrive in ‘bare root’ form, ready for you to plant without shocking the roots by ‘de-potting’ – although you could pot on into one of our larger biodegradable coir pots until you have finally decided where to plant your trees.
You can mix and match whatever trees you like and we will normally get them to you within 6-7 days.
Just tell us what trees you would like when you order.
