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Hello and welcome The end of September brings perhaps the greatest mushroom hunting month. As our woodlands turn from lush green to a collage of vibrant reds, yellows and browns, the woodland floor becomes carpeted with a dazzling array of wild fungi. This past month Marion Dean (our expert dog trainer) and I have been collecting wild truffles and we'll have some footage for you to see, possibly in the next newsletter. I've also spent the past few weeks collecting some other great wild fungi and in a few weeks time we are running a mushroom-collecting day with an opportunity to ask all you ever wanted about truffles and other fungi (see below). We've also got a few more updates for you, from wild finds in Finland to the importance of seed-selection in your truffle plantation. For now, enjoy the updates and please feel free to get in contact with any questions or comments.
Kind regards,
Dr Paul Thomas and the Mycorrhizal Systems Team
Truffle trees from local seeds
Location, location, location. The timeless advice on buying property can also be linked to truffle cultivation. Here at Mycorrhizal Systems we believe seed provenance to be really quite important. Many of our new plantations are started with a proportion of the planting stock grown from locally sourced seed. An example of this is our plantings in Baltic countries. The majority of the plantations are still planted with seed that we have tried-and-tested and proven to be an excellent host, but the percentage produced with attention to provenance is important for a number of reasons. Not only are we expanding our database of how well seeds from different areas perform, but we're also looking very closely at the impact of provenance on the potential of a truffle orchard. We can contract grow, so no matter where you are located we should be able to offer you a locally-sourced seed option. For further information on this or any aspect of truffles (no matter what country you are in), please get in contact: Shop@PlantationSystems.com or +44(0)1433 659 167.
Wild truffles in Finland
Several wild borchii truffles were found in Finland only recently after a scientific survey. The small quantity previously reported may not be indicative of the country's wild-harvest potential as a recent article in the Helsingin Sanomat (international edition) proves. With the increase of truffle interest in the Finnish media, truffle awareness has grown and so too have truffle finds. This September, a startled gardener in an Eastern Finnish city, dug up over 50 truffles from his compost heap. Amongst the leaf litter and detritus were a nice clutch of borchii truffles (Tuber borchii). This was one of the largest truffle finds in Finland. In addition, in July, over 70 truffles were found in the flower bed of a summer cottage. Interest in truffles is growing in Finland and our first Finnish Plantation will be established this autumn. For further information on this please get in contact: Shop@PlantationSystems.com or +44(0)1433 659 167.
Mushroom hunt, a meal and a chance to ask all your truffle questions€
On the 15th of October, Dr Paul Thomas will be running a mushroom foray with a superb Michelin rated restaurant, The Walnut Club, in the Peak District (UK). Promoted on our BBC radio slot this week, the day will involve mushroom hunting with expert guidance, followed by a three course meal containing our finds and a number of talks from both a culinary and biological perspective. The day will also give you the opportunity to ask all those truffle questions that you've been storing up! Craig Macfarland of the Walnut Club, says "This really represents good value at €35 for a three course meal and a day of tuition by one of the country's leading experts". For more information, or to book, visit The Walnut club website www.thewalnutclub.com <http://mycorrhizalsystemsltd.cmail2.com/t/y/l/kutjui/yuukmidl/y> or +44(0)1433 651 155 <http://mycorrhizalsystemsltd.cmail2.com/t/y/l/kutjui/yuukmidl/y>
Truffle festival in Istria
One of the most expensive truffles, Tuber magnatum, only grows in a few countries but is widely celebrated. The white truffle, with a garlicky scent, has so far eluded cultivation, but with it being the most expensive truffle on the planet many people are experimenting (including us!). Being highly valued, and really quite delicious there are many events each year celebrating the harvest. This coming month there are several events running in Istria and for those of you looking for an excuse to get away, events are listed on the Istria Gourmet website, here: http://tiny.cc/9tOQ2 <http://mycorrhizalsystemsltd.cmail2.com/t/y/l/kutjui/yuukmidl/j> or +44(0)1433 659 167. <http://mycorrhizalsystemsltd.cmail2.com/t/y/l/kutjui/yuukmidl/j>