98EXL's Hop Garden Build Thread
 

I do these all the time for my car forums, so I figured what the hell, I'll do a build thread for my hop garden since I think it should turn out being somewhat neat (at least that's what I keep telling myself).

So I'll start off with what happened during week one, which was last week. I am going to plant in an area which was all woods 15 years ago, and we whacked a lot of the crap outta there, and just mulched over top everything. The soil is freaking awesome there, and will be great for planting anything. I re-trimmed everything back there so I actually have room to plant. I burned a lot of sticks and branches in various piles way back in the woods so that I can till the ash into 'Hop Alley' as I'm going to call it. Also I ordered my plentiful bounty, 12 rhizomes: 1 Brewers Gold, 3 Cascade, 3 Centennial, 2 Chinook, 2 Fuggle, and 1 Magnum.

Week two, which is this week: Hops came in from Freshops on Wednesday. This weekend the ash will be spread in Hop Alley, and I'll till the whole entire area, including a plot for a vegetable garden. I figure that if I'm going to be spending some time with growing hops, I may as well grow vegetables and some herbs as well. I know I have at least 2 weeks to erect a support system, so I'm not worried about that right this second. One I get my rhizomes in the ground, I'm going to cut the grass with a mower that has a bag (I need to borrow one, ours mulches) and spread the grass on top of Hop Alley, and then put real mulch on top of that.

That's all for now, I'll have some pics of the progress this weekend, and the rhizomes to follow as well.

Tips and/or comments are welcome, I suppose most of this won't be 'cool' until I have some pics :)

let me know when ur gonna harvest, I know where u live ;)

if there is any to harvest, you are the first on the payroll now come August

hhmm, payroll is almost as good as a midnight raid :D

Well here are some updates, and a few pics I snapped with my cell phone. The first two were of the little fire I built so I could get rid of some yard waste, sticks and branches, and spread the ash into the ground for all of the things I am growing this year. I really don't have to worry about the soil, it's awesome, SWMBO said no wonder why weeds and vines grow so well back there. Anyway, everyone likes fire:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/...ium/fire1.jpeg
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/...ium/fire2.jpeg

Then yesterday, I borrowed my buddy's tiller, and just went to town. The skinnier longer row is for the hops, and then I decided on a giant (for me) vegetable garden right next to it.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/...ium/till1.jpeg
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/...ium/till3.jpeg

(it's so gay you can only have 4 images per post)

Here is what everything looks like all raked out and smooth. There is a nice gentle rain falling as we speak so everything should be nicely compacted. Plus I can see how (if any) the rain washes around in the area

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/...ium/till2.jpeg

That is good looking soil-nice and dark. That should be a nice hops and veggie garden. How are you going to support the hops?

I dug a few holes yesterday-after six inches is was all red clay. I sweetened it up with compost, sand, peat moss and vermiculite.

You're going to put 12 rhizomes in that one little stretch? Seems like they'll be a little crowded.

plenty for 12..... looks to 20 something by 30+ feet long

it's pretty long (I wish that's what she said) I gave 1 away, and will probably give another away......eitherway, I'll have room....I'll just extend it if I need to.

I did do a soil pH test today.....6.0 I wonder if it was because I used soil on top and it had rain on it....and rain is a little acidic....I dunno.

I did 72 seedlings for the vegetable garden today as well.....things seem to be going well.....rhizomes are going in the ground tomorrow.