Growing Hops

Growing hops is very addictive as a gardener. Hop plants are one of the most productive plants there is per square foot of soil. Hops grow vertical but will grow horizontal if they run out of something to climb. Hop growing is done primarily on ropes or twine but will climb trellises, lattice or anything they can wrap around.

First you need to decide on the type or variety of hops to grow. There are 2 qualities of hops, bittering and aroma. All hops have both qualities but depending on the variety, it is very distinct which quality they possess the most. Bittering hops tame the sweetness of the beer or ale and aroma hops impart a pleasant nose or bouquet to the beer or ale. You probably want at least one of each quality (bittering and aroma). Depending on your beer/ale preferences will determine this. IPA's (India Pale Ales) for example are heavily hopped with bittering type hops (and can also be heavily aroma hopped too).

Plant hop rhizomes (root cuttings) in small hills horizontally with buds pointing up 1 to 3 inches deep. Generally one hop rhizome per hill is sufficient. Some folks will plant 2 to 3 rhizomes per hill (hop rhizomes will run you $4 - $7 a piece). Occasionally, you can find hop plants at a nursery. This will give you a head start on the growing season. Some folks start rhizomes in containers indoors. The trick is to not let the bines freeze early in the season, first year hops are fragile. Once established, the hop shoots will figure the weather out and sprout at the appropriate time.

Hops plants grow bines, not vines. Bines wrap themselves around objects and use stiff hairs to hold on where vines have "gripper appendages" to support a vine (like cucumbers, beans...). They are best suited with lots of vertical space to climb. If 10 feet is all you have for height that is fine but they will easily climb 20 to 40 feet if allowed.

Hop cones also know as hop flowers are hops. Only female hop plants will produce a hops cone. Male hops are discouraged - if they pollinate the hop flowers it is undesirable for the beer making process - affects the taste of the hop and makes them "seedy". Also cross pollination will hybridize the seeds and will meld the 2 different qualities together and generally that is not a good thing. Hops are almost always started from hop rhizomes (root cuttings) that protrude out from the crown or root stalk so they are almost always female. Starting hops from seed is not an efficient way to grow hops. Always start with hop rhizomes.

Hops require as much sunshine as you can give them. Southern exposure is best. Hops will grow between the 30th and 50th parallels of the northern and southern hemispheres. The soil must be well drained, the root stalks will drown and/or rot if left in standing water. Planting hop rhizomes in small hills is helpful in preventing this. Hops also require lots of water initially untill the root stalk or crown has established itself with deep roots.

The best hop growing method is using twine or rope to climb. Hops love it and when it comes to harvest time, you can cut them down instead of trying to harvest on a ladder. Using a ladder is dangerous and not efficient for harvesting. Though hops will readily climb a lattice type trellis, harvesting hops from a trellis is difficult. A common method is a single pole with ropes run to the top of the pole creating a teepee configuration. the hop plants are planted in a circle and all climb towards the top of the teepee.

Many people run ropes to rooftops or elevated decks. Any tall structure is a great anchor point for the top of a hop bine rope. It is easiest to use a pulley system at the top so you do not need a ladder to drop the hop bines, just lower them via the pulley or pulley system you rig up.

This is what hop rhizomes look like. They are an extension of the root stock or crown. Rhizomes are how hops self propagate or spread (and they will spread so be prepared). They can be planted verticle or horizontally but the buds should face the surface for efficient sprouting.