Growing hops

Nate · 02-11-2006, 02:25 PM

Just wondering what everyone's general experience has been with growing your own hops. Almost time to order some rhizomes...

http://www.jackieboybrewing.com

**david_42** · 02-11-2006, 02:34 PM

Well, I've gotten to the "no crop the first year" stage. Should do better this year. Many of the homebrewers in the area grow their own. Of course, the PNW is the prime hops growing region in the USA.

**Dude** · 02-11-2006, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david_42

Well, I've gotten to the "no crop the first year" stage. Should do better this year. .

Mine too. I didn't have any crop from the 2 I planted last year. I'm expectin gthis year to get some results. Enough to dry hop with anyway.

I'm also going to order Cascade, Willamette, Glacier and Simcoe rhizomes this year.

I learned a crapload about growing hops on a podcast that featured Vinnie Cilurzo from Russian River. Amazing info.

**Pumbaa** · 02-11-2006, 05:49 PM

Quote:

I learned a crapload about growing hops on a podcast that featured Vinnie Cilurzo from Russian River. Amazing info.

quit holding out and share with those of us less technologicly advanced

cowain · 02-11-2006, 08:33 PM

I didn't harvest any last year (which was the second year for the rhizosome), but I believe that was because of the abnormally dry summer we had here and I didn't do a good enough job of keeping them watered. I will do better this year.

andyman · 02-12-2006, 06:02 AM

They are very easy to grow. You might not get any from the first season. Plant them on the most sunny, hot dry , side of the house. They like a ton of water. I nailed garden string to the eve of the house to let the vines climb. Plant them with lots of fertilizer and peat or spag moss.

oxford brewer · 02-12-2006, 06:02 PM

The company i work for has hops growing down a fence at the front of the building,i could harvest some next year .How can i tell if they are more suited to bittering or aroma(apart from a little test and evaluation

)?

Any ideas

cowain · 02-13-2006, 02:19 PM

There are certain people who have the equipment to determine what the alpha acid content. You can send them a sample and they'll tell you what the AA% is. Of course, I think it costs money and I don't know of any off the top of my head, so I suppose I'm not so helpful.

oxford brewer · 02-13-2006, 04:10 PM

Test and evaluation it is then(just remember to start of light

)

jldesign · 02-13-2006, 05:20 PM

this will be my third year. cascade, crystal, saz and liberty.

I got 2 oz of cascade both years also crystal but the saz and liberty barely produce a handfull but I've been growing them in 5 gallon pots (I know they are root bound big time). I just cut down and put in garage and they come back when it warms up.

I tie some twine to the eves of my house over the deck and away they grow.

they want 100% all day sun and lots of water and good soil. they look nice also for shade or whatever and it is fun to pick a ripe cone off and chew it while enjoying a homebrew in the sun!

I got a couple off ebay so watch their as well.