Bluechicken

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I'm planning on planting a few hops rhizomes this spring, and live in the Boston, MA area. My local supply store is selling the following varieties:

Cascade, Chinook, Kent Golding, Mt. Hood, Nugget, Sterling and Williamette.

I'm a beer brewing novice, and was wondering if anyone was familiar with these hops and might recommend one or two over the others.

Thanks

Suthrncomfrt1884

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Cascade grows pretty much anywhere, so I'm sure it will become a staple in your garden. The yield alone makes it well worth it.

As for another two...Nugget is a good grower, and the two years I grew Willamette, it worked out fairly well. I'm not in Boston, but hops aren't very picky about where they grow. As long as you have 120-150 frost-free days, you'll get hops.

Stay away from Mt. Hood and K.G. Those two are fairly tough to grow unless you have a little experience and a green thumb. My Mt. Hood is in it's third year and I'm still having trouble getting more than a few ounces out of it.

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babalu87

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Cascades grow well here
My Mt Hoods do well but I have a bit of a green thumb.
Fuggles do OK but the flowers are pretty small, might gun those and put another type in their place

Getting CTZ this Spring

dcp27

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Awesome, I was just considering this when I learned a nearby place was selling the rhizomes (beer & wine hobby bluechicken?). Does it take much work to get them going around here babalu? I'm thinking nugget, cascade, and/or chinook if that helps.

Bluechicken

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Beer & Wine Hobby indeed (http://www.beer-wine.com). They're taking orders now, I wasn't sure which ones to try.

Thanks for all the advice. I'll probably go with Cascade and Nugget.

babalu87

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Things hops need to flourish are full Southern exposure or at least as close as you can get.
Well drained soil, I'd suggest putting new plants on little hill to ensure good drainage.
Plenty of watering early in life.
Peat moss a little sand an manure mixed in the soil.

Bluechicken

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This link also has good tips: http://www.beer-wine.com/node/1772

dcp27

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So being in Medford I don't have much of a yard, and there's probably only a 5'x7' or so plot open (there's a few bushes in the little other area I have). From that link, it sounds a little close, but do you think that is big enough for two varieties?

edit: if not, would there be any problem growing hops amongst the bushes?

Bluechicken

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I'd say go for it - they're only $5-6 each, and if the area they climb gets sun, that should help. (I'm not expert on hops, though I do garden every year).

It'd be fun to try, at least.

rwinzing

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I can't wait I have nine rhizomes on order

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