Anyone ever try growing Hops?

[mantis]

One of my hobbies is homebrewing, and we just put in a covered deck in our back yard. I'm thinking of growing Hops up the posts. Here is a picture to show the deck:



Anyone have any experience growing them?

[rfgpitt]

Sorry, just experience sampling the final product.....

[iandad]

What kind o' hops are you growing?

Way too hot to brew here in summer without a lagering fridge, but I do brew ales as time (urghh) allows.

Hmmm, Cascade hops.

[mantis]

What kind o' hops are you growing?

Way too hot to brew here in summer without a lagering fridge, but I do brew ales as time (urghh) allows.

Hmmm, Cascade hops.

Not sure what kind yet. I was thinking it might be a fun thing to grow. I don't plan on using them to brew with; I just love how they smell

I picked up a wine refrigerator for lagering and also for fermenting some of the cooler ales (I have a kolsch fermenting now at 69*).

[CadyG]

I have lots of H. lupulus "Aurea." Some twining up the rail of my front steps so that you can't see any of the rail anymore, and another out back trained up a 7' tuteur and launching off into the 'boo for taller support.

The "Aurea" was supposed to be sterile, and the one out back is true to cultivar, but the one by the front porch, while it started out looking like "Aurea," has reverted to green (I should have tracked it back to the base and pulled the shoots that were reverted) and flowered/seeded profusely and prolifically. I have hops hanging off the bannister. It looks great though, and I can't bring myself to remove it.

Contemplating harvesting the hops and making a home brew.

[mantis]

I have lots of H. lupulus "Aurea." Some twining up the rail of my front steps so that you can't see any of the rail anymore, and another out back trained up a 7' tuteur and launching off into the 'boo for taller support.

The "Aurea" was supposed to be sterile, and the one out back is true to cultivar, but the one by the front porch, while it started out looking like "Aurea," has reverted to green (I should have tracked it back to the base and pulled the shoots that were reverted) and flowered/seeded profusely and prolifically. I have hops hanging off the bannister. It looks great though, and I can't bring myself to remove it.

Contemplating harvesting the hops and making a home brew.

Did you start with seeds? My wife bought some seeds off eBay, and followed the directions (I guess cut them, cover them in soil, and put them in the fridge for 30 days), so our veggie drawer in the fridge is full of dirt I have no idea what she bought, and I'm pretty sure nothing will come of them. I know there are places that sell hop rhizomes, so you just have to pot them (my preferred choice). I have a feeling that I need to go find someplace like www.Humulus-lupulusweb.info

[CadyG]

I started with rooted plants. Don't know whether they are from seeds or cloned. I do have seeds from Garden Makers, but never attempted to start them, as the germination requirements looked so fussy. Easier to get plants that are already established.

[Thuja]

I think I had 'Mt. Hood' hops growing for a several years until I moved. Like most vines it took a few years to really get going, but once it did it was pretty unrulely. I think you would need to do a bit of training to get the vines to stay where you want. The stems must have stiff hairs that stick onto you as you brush against them. I ended up with enough hops to open my own brewery had I wanted.

[mantis]

Old topic, but I just secured some rhizomes for Centennial and Cascade hops from a friend who I trade beers with... he's in WI and I'm in TX, so we ship each other random regional beers. He said he'll include some cuttings in the next beer shipment, which will be whenever WI gets above freezing.

[Roy]

Old topic, but I just secured some rhizomes for Centennial and Cascade hops from a friend who I trade beers with... he's in WI and I'm in TX, so we ship each other random regional beers. He said he'll include some cuttings in the next beer shipment, which will be whenever WI gets above freezing.

Here's to you for resurrecting a thread from the dead.

[marcat]

Hey Mantis if you get some going we need to talk trade. I have never done a batch with really fresh hops. It would be an experience I am sure to imbibe OOPS I mean enjoy...
MarCat

[mantis]

Hey Mantis if you get some going we need to talk trade. I have never done a batch with really fresh hops. It would be an experience I am sure to imbibe OOPS I mean enjoy...
MarCat

From what I've found the first year the rhizomes just grow some root mass, and don't really grow much vine. The second year they grow more vine, but do not produce a lot of cones/flower/hops. The 3rd year... look out! Some can grow up to 8"/day. Hmmm... 8"/day... sounds like another plant that I've heard about.

I'll keep the thread updated with any news... hopefully it won't be another 1.5 years until my next thread update.

[svendrix]

Hi mantis,

So I'm curious, what ever happened to your refrigerator bin full of dirt (mentioned in your last post before resurrecting the thread)?!!! I'm guessing that it was nothing like you originally thought back then.

I'll be curious to see what your life with the hops is like, and which you choose. I used to homebrew back in college, and it would be fun to try different hops that you grow fresh yourself!

---Sven

[mantis]

Hi mantis,

So I'm curious, what ever happened to your refrigerator bin full of dirt (mentioned in your last post before resurrecting the thread)?!!! I'm guessing that it was nothing like you originally thought back then.

No, it pretty much went exactly as I thought.

I have no idea what she bought, and I'm pretty sure nothing will come of them.

[foxd]

Hi mantis,

So I'm curious, what ever happened to your refrigerator bin full of dirt (mentioned in your last post before resurrecting the thread)?!!! I'm guessing that it was nothing like you originally thought back then.

No, it pretty much went exactly as I thought.

I have no idea what she bought, and I'm pretty sure nothing will come of them.

I'm beginning to think all the seeds I bought are going to go the same way. I am still holding at three seedlings out of the lot of them, though I suspect the recently acquired Scarlet Runner Beans are going to germinate quickly.

On the bright side, I should have lots of tomato plants this year thanks to an overheard comment at the Farmer's Market last year.