Adult Dimensions: Height up to 20 m (65,6'), width up to 15 m (49,2').
Foliage: Deciduous.
Soil Type: All except wet soil.
Hardiness: hardy to -20°C.
Exposure: Full sun.
Properties and uses:
The white oak is a superb truffle tree. It is important to plant it in a very chalky (alkaline, pH greater than 7.5) soil which is well drained to avoid any excessive moisture. It is suited to dry regions where there is little rainfall. It is vital that your plants establish good roots if the truffles are going to properly develop; therefore meticulous soil preparation is essential before planting.
The planting density for tuber melanosporum varies between 250 and 400 plants per hectare.
Regular maintenance and careful watering are equally important if you want to succeed.
It will take between 8 and 10 year for the first harvest of truffles.
Even if it takes longer to start producing truffles than the holm oak, it will actually have a longer productive life. Some white truffle oaks are over a hundred years old!
Throughout the world there are several different types of truffle, however in France only 2 are regularly planted: Tuber melanosporum and Tuber uncinatum.
Uncinatum tuber / Bourgogne Truffle: The Bourgogne truffle is appreciated for its strong flavour and incomparable de sous-bois, it is also for its nut like flavour that it has such a reputation for quality. It is harvested in September.
Melanosporum tuber / Perigord Truffle: The famous black truffle of Périgord is loved for its very strong unique flavour. It has a worldwide reputation. It is harvested from December to the end of March.
Which one to plant, Melanosporum tuber or Uncinatum tuber ?
Apart from the different flavour of each variety, generally plants with the uncinatum tuber are planted in regions where the winters can be severe. As the Bourgogne truffle reaches maturity earlier than son homologue, it can be harvested before hard frosts. The Périgord truffle is planted mainly in the west and south of France.