larrybrewer

Recipes 

Has anybody tried growing hops in a planter? I am interested in starting some rhizomes this way, and maybe leaving them permanently in large pots. Is this futile?

I have approval from SWMBO to rip out the shrubs in front lawn and plant hops there.

PROST!

EvilTOJ

Recipes 

It will work for the first few years, but hops create huge root systems and ultimately will need to be planted in the ground. I've grown them in 5 gallon buckets their first year, and I recommend using wine barrels cut in half for planters. Seriously.

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KiltLifter

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I used 1/2 barrels for years when I was renting and moving a lot. You have to feed more if it's stuck in a barrel, and be careful it doesn't dry out, but they work great.
I drilled a few holes in the bottom of the barrel to let excess water drain. When I discovered hop shoots in my lawn, I discovered that the crafty little plant had sent roots out the holes into the yard!
Most of the places I rented were "infested" with hops by the time I left, darn!

JarrodH

Recipes 

I have also been using half wine barrels for my two hops (Tet and Northern brewer) and they came out with a decent yield for the first year. I second the notion that you have to be carefull they dont dry out, but they seemed to grow fine in the barrels. In the next year or so I will probably plant mine now that I have a more stable location.

david_42

Recipes 

Just a side note, if part of your planting area is shady, get a Sunbeam. It has a chlorophyll deficiency and yellow leaves. Very ornamental and the hops are similar to Saazer.

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xpoc454

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Where do you buy half barrels? DO they sell them in hardware stores in the midiwest?
I am planning to start my furst this spring also. We should keep this up to date and see how we all do.

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JarrodH

Recipes 

I bought mine at Home Depot. I have seen them in other hardware stores as well.

magnj

Recipes 

I think I'm going to try that. I'm pretty sure I'll be moving around a bunch over the next 5 years and it'd me nice to have them semi-portable.

McKBrew

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I used some of those large plastic planters from Home Depot (20GAL I think). The biggest thing is getting a stable support for them to grow up. My 3/4" electrical conduit wasn't really sturdy enough and when the wind caught them they blew over.

TXCurtis

Recipes 

You can also go to a nursery supply store (not sure if there are many in other parts of the country) and get HUGE plastic planters (basic black - what trees, etc come in). I have my blueberries in big planters (roughly 1/2 wine barrel sized) - think I paid $8 each and they're on their 3rd year with no sign of deterioration...

Definitely will take some research and calling - but an economical alternative to wine barrels if aesthetics isn't tantamount

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