GROWING ORGANIC HOPS: SOME QUICK TIPS TO A SUCCESSFUL CROP

[AlumniClub]

A Quick Primer.. Know Your Hop Plants
Hops are a perennial plant, meaning with proper care one plant will produce for many years. Hops like fertile soil, plenty of sun and water, and something to climb on. The part of the plant used in brewing are the flower cones of the female plant. When growing your own hops, it is best to start with rhizomes (roots) from the female plant only, as these will produce large healthy cones without any seed.

Which Varieties Will Grow Best in Your Back Yard?
There are many varieties of hops, and if you are growing hops for the first time, it is a good idea to start with several varieties to find out which will do the best in your own back yard. For areas with a short growing season, choose hops that can be harvested early:
Hallertaur, Perle, Saaz, Spalt, & Tettnanger

For areas with a longer growing season, Cascade and Kent Goldings are good choices, but the other varieties can be grown successfully also, as long as the plants are mulched well and they get plenty of water. Here in California, all of the varieties we sell can be grown successfully.

Planting Your Hops In the Right Place:
A good site for your hop plants is key to a healthy crop. The following criteria is the most important:
-Good sun.. a minimum of 6 to 8 hours per day of full sunlight.
-Good air circulation..this will help to prevent diseases and will help keep pests to a minimum. If your area is really windy, a windbreak should be considered.
-Good drainage.. hops like a lot of moisture, but ground that stays too saturated after a heavy rain will promote the growth of mold and other diseases.
-Plenty of vertical space.. hop vines can grow up to 30 feet in length. You will need to construct a trellis, or use an existing structure that the hops can grow on.

Planting Your Hops:
Get your hops off to a good start by adding lots of compost or well rotted manure to the soil before planting. Hops grow best in soil with a Ph of 6 to 7.5, and need plenty of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, and boron. A good organic fertilizer or compost will provide most of these nutrients. For more details about soil amendments and fertilizers, we recommend The Homebrewer's Garden, or another good gardening guide. Plant the hop rhizomes 6" deep and 1 1/2 to 3 feet apart, in raised beds if possible. The soil should be worked at least 2' deep. Cover the planted hops with a thick layer of mulch to prevent the soil from drying out and to keep weeds and pests to a minimum.
Before the hops grow more than a few inches, construct a hop trellis. There are many designs for the hop trellis, some of which can be found on the web page links, above, or in the recommended books, above. A good trellis is sturdy so it can hold up the weight of the hops plus withstand a strong wind, and gives the entire leafy part of the hop plant good sun exposure.


Source: http://www.breworganic.com/tips/growing-hops.htm
Seven Bridges Cooperative - Santa Cruz, CA

GB2

[AlumniClub]

How big is your garden and how long have you been growing hop plants?

[AlumniClub]

sorry.... my source of info is now posted in above reply. Sorry for confusion Raven and thank you for cathcing that and reminding me buddy!


GB2

[AlumniClub]

I really thought you grew hops so I was going to ask you for some garden tips. It didnt even occur to me about a source, I'm geared up for a growing season this year and was looking info alternitve crops for years down the road. Thanks for adding the source anyhow.

[AlumniClub]

Can hops be bought a local co-ops or do need to order from specialty stores?

[flounce]

I planted three varieties of hops last year.

They came as a piece of root about 10 inches long and looked like a dead stick. Two of the plants did not grow very well because I put them in a fencerow that has other trees and bushes stealing sun and nutrients, but the third one ‘cascade’ was planted out in the open next to the t.v. tower.

By the end of the season, the cascade had grown two vines over 18 feet tall and yielded about 4 ounces of flowers. I will be moving the two varieties out of the fence row this spring, cutting up whatever roots I find into 10inch pieces to replant.

I ordered my rootstock from Freshhops out of Philomath, Oregon http://www.freshops.com/rhizinfo.html . I have also ordered hops flowers for brewing from them, and testify to the reliability and integrity of this company.

There are actually four important things to consider concerning hops. The first of course is to grow them but added to that are the following:

• Harvesting at the proper time

• Initial drying of the flowers unless you plan to use them immediately during August or September when they are picked

• Long term storage

I failed at the final step last year and my hops lost their fresh smell and probably flavor because I left them sit out instead of bagging and freezing them until I was ready to use them. Unless I was purchasing from a fellow brewer who knew the rules of correct hop harvest and storage, I would rely on a professional hop distributor over a farmers market source.

[AlumniClub]

Thanks for the info..it will be very helpful!

[keith]

Originally Posted by flounce

......Unless I was purchasing from a fellow brewer who knew the rules of correct hop harvest and storage, I would rely on a professional hop distributor over a farmers market source.

Great post. I think I'll stick to vegetables for a while. Got to get a brew done right yet before I start thinking of making the ingredients. When I do, though, looks like I'll know where to come for advice!

Regards,
Keith

[MrKhay]

Originally Posted by FormerUsers

Can hops be bought a local co-ops or do need to order from specialty stores?

I'm fortunate enough to have a malting company in the local area, with friends and relatives in employ there. they know what I might need if I were so inclined to begin brewing my own brewski.