Sanityworkshop

Recipes 

I've just started this brewing thing and I have read up a bit on it but I use to garden a ton when I had room for it... and I was wondering how easy it would be to grow my own hops just for the hell of it... and one out there doing this at the moment and want to drop me a line?

david_42

Recipes 

There are several threads on this, but go to www.freshops.com and read about it. A key point Dave doesn't make is the amount of water they need, 5-6 inches a week during the prime growing season.

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Yuri_Rage

Recipes 

Anybody have any success growing hops in a dry climate? How big are the root systems on the average hop vine?

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Rookie

Recipes 

I use a slow running drip line that directs the water to a small area around the hops so it is easy to get the needed amount of water without playing havoc on your water bill.

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"We all put the yeast in", Larry, Moe & Curley.

david_42

Recipes 

Yah, drip lines next year. The hops garden is 200 feet from the house. That's a lot of pipe to bury.

I also have a well that's right next to the garden, but no water in the dry months. Right now, it's wet enough that I get water out of the pump with the power shut off!

Another thing about hops, they have a big tap root, but will put out surface roots if the water is available. They can be very invasive in yards.

__________________
Remember one unassailable statistic, as explained by the late, great George Carlin: "Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!"

"I would like to die on Mars, just not on impact." Elon Musk

Schlenkerla

Recipes 

I did my my first year of hops growin' . I was pretty successfull. I grew two cascades and two nuggets. Both are rapid growers and are recommended 1st trys by freshops. I got about 2.5 oz of cascades and 1.75 oz. of nuggets this year. This being my first. I was not disapointed. They smell awesome at harvest time. (August-October) Next year the yield should be 4X more.

I know this doesn't seem like much, but the appreciation will be much like drinking your first homebrew....

I really gave them alot of TLC. Watered every other day, weeded, and clipped back extra growth... If you make the decision to buy the rhizomes, I bet you'll probably do the same... The are really vigorous growers in July. The'll grow 6-8" per day!!! I used the the Teepee method. Check out the photos from harvest time.....

http://boozinsusansbrewery.spaces.live.com/

I bought mine around March-April at http://www.freshops.com

My first batch brewed from home grown hops is with cascades from Charlie P's suggested American Cream Ale recipe. The initial taste, at bottling, seems to be pretty good. Hopped very mildly at 13-14IBU w/ 6lbs Lt DME & 1/2lbs carapils. Mild is a good idea with the 1st batch since you don't know the AAU's

This batch was my first lager too. Used Superior Lager Yeast. I am bottle lagering this batch now until the superbowl.

Bears just lost to the Pat's......

Hope da bears get dair.....

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Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. - Dale Carnegie

BS Nano-Brewery

Primary: Irish Red Ale, Dead Ringer IPA
2ndary: Red Zinfandel
Drinking: Irish Blonde, House Amber
Next: SNPA Clone, Cali-Common, Another Amber

|Myeast 50327|Easy Hop Oast|

boo boo

Recipes 

I tried my hand (or green thumb) at hop growing this year also. Due to weather restrictions here in Newfoundland, I didn't get my hop plants shipped to me until late june. These were seedlings and not rhizomes, and the cascades produced an ounce of dried cones from the three plants. Another three hallertau plants I had didn't produce this year. I expect them to grow big this comming year and have to build a trellis for them to climb.

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Sir Humpsalot

Recipes 

I was thinking the other day about how cool it would be to grow hops hydroponically... so you could adjust the nitrogen levels in the air and micro-control their environment to get some really killer hops.

There's plenty of information out there about growing things like this hydroponically, but if you decide to do the research, don't be surprised if the FBI comes knocking on your door some day....

debtman7

Recipes 

I'm planning on trying next year. We have a trellis that's about 10' high, currently we grow grape vines on it but there is some open room for hops. Only thing I'm not sure about is that it's only about 10' high and most hops seem to like to grow around 20'. Will a 10' height work out ok?

Schlenkerla

Recipes 

10' should work. It will probably get more bushy. You may have to clip back the hops so they don't growover or choke out the grapes.

__________________
Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. - Dale Carnegie

BS Nano-Brewery

Primary: Irish Red Ale, Dead Ringer IPA
2ndary: Red Zinfandel
Drinking: Irish Blonde, House Amber
Next: SNPA Clone, Cali-Common, Another Amber

|Myeast 50327|Easy Hop Oast|