Trufficulture Tips:Checking for bud break stage and development of bloom provides seasonal information for spring management of tree health and for accurate documentation. Hindsight has shown us the incredible importance of keeping detailed records – take the time to document the weather, soil conditions, tree growth, root conditions and all other variables! Track any changes or corrective actions such as pruning and soil amendments and the results. We are happy to have kept very comprehensive documentation that will enable detailed analysis of patterns and results, leading to an unparalleled knowledge base about Canadian Trufficulture.Fall is the ideal time to check the soil pH factors of your plantation, striving for the optimum 7.5-7.9 pH and to amend accordingly. If a complete soil analysis has not been done, it may be advisable at this time. In summer ensure your young seedlings have enough moisture provided, while remaining moderate and adjusting for site-specific condition, annual rainfall, temperature and evapotranspiration rates. Avoid overwatering, which can encourage tap root formation preventing the formation of fine root biomass. Fine roots are more efficient for vertical water transport to the leaves, higher CO2 fixation and therefore higher T. Melanosporum colonization. Moderate irrigation allocates more resource to developing the mycorrhizae, which in turn compensates for the lower water availability. Monitor and establish a foundation for your plantation, taking into consideration seedling water stress can vary depending on host species, plantation density, and water-holding capacity of a specific soil. Severe pruning of the Hazelnut trees is needed to keep tree growth in check. Less nitrogen is beneficial to reduce this requirement. Garry Oak has a natural tree form and requires substantially less pruning maintenance. March pruning in advance of tree spring growth emergence is beneficial. Prune in an inverted cone shape allowing heat penetration to the crown area. Check your orchard soil for wireworm infestations prior to planting. Repeated cultivation discourages this cycle. Aphid infestation in the hazelnut plantation has been successfully controlled with diatomaceous earth, a natural powder that is easily administered in calm air with no rain for at least 12 hours. |
Duckett Truffieres NewsJANUARY 2012We are approaching harvest again for the fourth time for the oldest section of the truffiere, while the newest section will not produce truffles for another couple of years at least. We have had record-breaking cold again this winter and a solid blanket of snow that only stayed a short time compared to the month-long snow cover we had once in recent years. The full impact of climate and weather on production is still unknown so we continue to document our seasonal variations to build up a database of weather and production information. It will take many years of weather cycles to connect the harvest results to the impact of the weather. We can't help looking to our records from past years and searching for repeated patterns - we're anticipating another great black Perigord truffle harvest. January is National Dog Training Month and we will be continuing to train Duchess and our other Lagotto Romagnolo of Canada here at Ducketts Farms throughout the harvest season. Lagotto are a breed hardy to the climate, resilent and focused with purpose of mind - true working dogs and our most important harvest workers. Reservations are being accepted for Lagotto puppies from Duchess' next litter, due this spring. SEPTEMBER 2011Early harvest includes acorns and nuts produced as a by-product of the Garry Oak and Hazelnut truffle trees. Nuts and acorns are both valuable foods, rich in nutrients and valued historically by many cultures world-wide, including indigenous North Americans. There is more information at the UN Food & Agriculture website about nuts and acorns as food as well. While harvesting we conduct an analysis of the years growth and leafed canopy cover in preparation for later fall pruning. We will also mark any fissure like cracks in the earth under and around the trees that may depict truffle growth as these cracks will not show as winter rains come. We are also checking for tree health and wellness and reading the fall soil ph for possible need of spring soil amendment. New noses for detection, pet, companion or breeding, reserve as few are offered. Ducketts are proud, two puppies have been trained and placed for autism assistance/companion, three have been placed with small children companions, one trained to assist the disabled and one has gone to Search and Rescue training. Of course there are also new trainees for truffle detection available when additional assistance is required. AUGUST 2011Fall is an excellent time to plant host trees. This Year of the Tree we have limited quantities of premium Hazelnut and Garry Oak hosts available for reserved orders. Prepare your planting location well in advance (see our trufficulture tips and the trufficulture page). Host trees are versatile and work well in any location from ornamental landscape specimens to a foodie garden, flanking an entrance or starting a truffiere plantation. Order today for Sept/Oct pickup/delivery. Print out the order form and mail it to us at 400 Lowrys Road, Parksville, BC, Canada, V9P 2B5 or submit it by email. Ducketts' Registered Italian Lagotto Romagnolo, DCK Duchess is proud. These Premium Canadian born, purebred Lagotto will contribute to foundation stock for Canadas' Lagotto Romagnolo. Pictures will be posted soon when their eyes are open and they are active. DCK Duchess and Ducketts' Dexter Regun Dino have whelped premium puppies in late August, 2011. Duchess's second litter, Dexters' first, brings a premium conforming standard to Canada of purebred Italian Lagotto, the working breed known world-wide as "non-shedding, hypo-allergenic" truffle hunters and support dogs. There will be few puppies available and in high demand after Registration, Vet Health Protocol including physical tests, blood check, 1st vaccinations, micro-chipping and maintenance de-worming to ensure our Canadian Lagotto stock meets International Conformation Standard for this rare and ancient Italian breed. Our Health Guarantee is solely the Licensed Vet Health Certificate provided upon purchase, and conditions shall be strictly limited thereto. To reserve please complete and submit an application. Click here to Download Puppy/Dog Application Form. JULY 2011With odd and unusual weather comes feast or famine. We're concerned for the many areas of the world suffering overwhelming heat and drought this year, but we're left with suffering an incredibly cool and wet spring and summer here on Vancouver Island. Weather conditions are known to affect the harvest of almost any agricultural product, and so with truffles. In Europe the French and Italians celebrate such occasions as unusual amounts of rain in July. Summer moisture is critical to truffle development. The level, method of application and continuity of irrigation has site-specific variables, and is under research to determine the best practises. If you are establishing a truffiere, it would be beneficial to document your specific weather patterns and all your corrective actions, such as irrigation methodology. We're a little excited to see what this summer rain brings! We're also a little excited that our Dexter Dino and Duchess will be whelping puppies in the early fall. These two dogs are of completely different blood lineage and are both purebred conforming registered Lagotto Romagnolo Truffle Dogs. They will be some of Canada's foundation building blocks to establish standards for Registered Lagottos conforming to their long-standing heredity and performance for detection, show and breeding. This litter will provide a very small number of puppies for new home placement, so do reserve early! MAY 2011We're happy to report that the long, harsh (by Vancouver Island standards) winter damaged NONE of the 10,000-plus trees in our truffieres. It's reassuring to know that our tree stock is, in fact, exceptionally hardy. We have been happy to help establish new truffieres here in Canada by selling our excess inoculated trees to others wishing to try pioneering growing the elusive Black Perigord Truffle. These premium host trees are variable in quantity, variety, age and size of stock and not guaranteed available. We are not primarily a tree nursery; establishing and trialling Canada's 1st truffieres in these pioneering years remains our primary business focus. Most years the onset of hot summer weather means tree planting, and therefore truffle tree sales, end by the first of May. Our cool, wet spring this year meant we extended plantation tree sales until May 15th. All orders that were completely processed and paid by the 15th will be fully completed by management, but we are unable to process any new orders, unpaid orders or any order changes after that date. The risk of tree and colonization loss becomes too high if they are handled late in the truffle growth cycle or suffer heat stress when they are newly transplanted. APRIL 2011Duckett Truffieres is happy to have donated ten native Garry Oak and Hazelnut truffle-inoculated host trees to the 33rd annual Coombs Farmers’ Institute Annual Spring Auction held this month. This auction raises funds for scholarships for students continuing with an agricultural career. Duckett Truffieres is honoured to join the celebration of "Forests For People" being promoted by Natural Resources Canada during this International Year of Forests 2011 (IYF). IYF 2011 is encouraging the world to plant trees to increase neighbourhood liveability, increase home and property values, reduce household energy use and mitigate the effect of climate change. Trees and forests improve the quality of life. Working with partners from varied micro-climates across Canada, Ducketts have grown hardy west coast seedling trees for urban and rural areas. Plant, nourish and protect a tree this year. Contact Duckett Truffieres for Garry Oak, Birch, Willow, Edible Chestnut, Blue Atlas Cedar or Maple. Phone or Fax 1-250-586-5133 DUCKETT TRUFFIERES in the MEDIADuckett Truffieres have pioneered all aspects of black Perigord truffle production in Canada. Media attention attests to the importance of these achievements in Canadian agriculture and the enormous potential for this beginning industry in Canada. Some of the Media outlets who have reported on Duckett Truffieres and trufficulture in BC include:
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