Anyone grow hops?

[Deberosa]

I've made a deal with my boss's husband to grow some hops next year in return for some of his wonderful homemade beer. ;-)

Now I have to figure out how to grow hops and where to get them!

Does anyone have experience in this?

[backlash]

I live in the hop growing capital and unfortunately I don't know a thing about it.
However I have a couple of cousins that are married to big time hop growers.
If you don't get the information you need I can try to find out for you.
Or look here.
http://www.picobrewery.com/askarchive/growhops.htm
backlash

[AlchemyAcres]

I don't have any hops now, but my cousin and I had a "beer garden" at my last place...growing both barley and hops. It's another one of the many things on my "to do" list.

Hops is very easy to grow starting from rhizomes planted in the spring. It's best grown on a sturdy trellis. It needs fertile well-drained but very moist soil and lots of sun to thrive.

Don't expect a worthwhile harvest of cones until the second year.

Edited to add: I got my rhizomes from a friend. Freshops.com is probably the best known place to get them online....they should have a complete rhizome list closer to spring.


~Martin

[Deberosa]

THanks! The only thing I've known about them is they were on a Dirty Jobs show a while back. ;-) Now the TV isn't even plugged in!

[kawalekm]

Hi Deb
Look for a beer and wine making store in your area where you can special order them. You might get put on a list of buyers for spring distribution. The rhizomes are usually shipped once in the spring, so you want to be added to the list now so you'll get what you want.

I originally bought three varieties, but two died out quickly in southern California's weather. The variety Liberty was the most hardy and that survived untill that planting area got taken over by grape vines.
Michael

[backlash]

THanks! The only thing I've known about them is they were on a Dirty Jobs show a while back. ;-) Now the TV isn't even plugged in!

That show was filmed where I live.