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BrokenArmBrewing · 09-12-2012, 12:46 PM

So after having my parents succesfully growing Cascade hops in Rhode Island with pretty good first year harvest, I've decided to give it a try in Florida.

I know that this is not the area to succesfully grow, but I do love a challange.
Key West Brewing has gotten it done this year in Key West, so Why not in the Tampa area. I would like also to give a raised pint to Great Lakes Hops,
who I got the 2 plants from. A really stand up company. Tell Amee I said Hi!

Being planted is Fuggles and Magnum

The temperature is still getting in to the mid 80's to 90's with pockets of rain every once in a while. I planted each crown in buckets, each having 2 cuft of flower potting mix. They are in a screened in patio to help keep bugs at bay.

So with out further booring you, here is the progress so far. I want, like Key West Brewing to keep a weekly photo diary.

**KeyWestBrewing** · 09-12-2012, 04:07 PM

They look happy already!!! Looking forward to following the thread. Cheers!

01steve · 09-13-2012, 01:22 AM

i planted 4 rhizomes (magnum cascade pearle and centennial) all are about 5' except for the magnum which hasn't done squat-... in lutz btw.

good job on the patio mine are being eaten away by something. it hasn't been a year yet but i've yet to see any hop cones-... good luck to ya!

BrokenArmBrewing · 09-13-2012, 01:55 AM

Where are you at Steve?

01steve · 09-13-2012, 09:36 PM

i'm about 30 mins south of you on us-41.

Rbeckett · 09-13-2012, 10:47 PM

And I am about an hour North of you on 41 too. I have not had great success this year, but did manage to get a couple of 10 foot bines. Several of my plants fizzled out but I think they really needed a little shade and more nutrients to really thrive well. I;m an amateur gardener and that is pretty consistent with my gardening results so I know it is my failure and not the rhizomes. The plants at Home Depot cringe when we pull up in the lot.... But I will keep trying and learning untill I get better at it and get some results. Might want to shade the plants during the heat of the day and let them get sun during the cooler parts for a better resullt. That is the plan for spring 2103 season for me.
Bob

BrokenArmBrewing · 09-13-2012, 11:39 PM

Glad there are some sort of stories out there form guys that are close. I have no green thumb, but its worth a try. They are planted on the east side of the yard. There are some tall trees in the yard behind be so direct sun starts at about 9 till 3 then shade. So far so good. Visible growth every day!

**passedpawn** · 09-13-2012, 11:42 PM

I'm living vicariously through you. I've been saying I'll do it for years, but no.

**KeyWestBrewing** · 09-13-2012, 11:48 PM

Rhizomes are tougher to grow since the plant is trying to grow bines and root structure at the same time. That could be why the sun torched em. Otherwise if you start from crown they seem to love full sun every day. Mine wasnt even bothered by the heat as long as it got the water it needed.

StanJohnson · 09-14-2012, 06:44 PM

Hey guys. I've been following KeyWestBrewer's thread and also posted on there a few times. Since I'm basically across the state from you, I thought I'd share some pics and thoughts on the Cascades that I'm growing. I planted my two rhizomes in late March. They are on the south side of the house, and get sun starting around noon. Here's a photo of what they looked like at the end of April. The brown anole is guarding them from pest

I decided not to cut any bines and just let them grow. It's a good thing I did, because the best growing bine on one of my plants some how got a nick in it and died. Here's what the base of the bines look like now.

Here's what the top looks like.

Here's a couple of close-ups I took today. As you can see, I've got cones and and I'm still getting new burrs.

Here's what they look like from underneath.

The way I've been doing it is harvesting cones when they are ready. I'm estimating that I've harvested around 3-4 ounces wet so far. Not much, but it's something. I added 1 1/2 ounces wet to a 3 gallon brew I did last weekend. Here's a pic of a small bowl that I picked about a month ago.

My plan is to keep harvesting hops as long as the plants produce them. I also have a small garden that currently has tomatoes, lettuce, onions and green peppers. I've had one green pepper plant produce peppers year round for two years. I have banana trees that grow year round and produce bananas from time to time. I'm just wondering if hops will grow year round. This is my first year so I don't know if they'll keep growing in the winter or not. If we have a mild winter like last year maybe they will. Any way, I just wanted to share my story and let you know that you can grow hops in central Florida.