Jagdad

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Not to start a claymation death match or anything.... just the facts . . .
GLH is a propagator that primarily supplies commercial hopyards. They grow certified planting stock. (Are rhizomes certified? no) They do not grow Raspberry,Currants, ETC. Their field grade plants are not comparable to highhops starts. They are the only supplier that will post pics of what they actually ship. (if you want plants the size of HH, GLH will sell them to you all day long at $3 bucks, no guarantees). They produce 33 varieties year-around because they export also. (just because they don't list it on Ebay, doesn't mean the variety is unavailable) Check out their FB page. Commercial quanties are priced as low as $3.50 FOB. which is very competitive compared with Summit Labs smaller product @ $2.85
This Post-whipping by rhizome suppliers just shows they can't really compete. (Also, GLH could easily sell rhizomes if they chose too.) Anybody who really thinks a little piece of a rhizome with no roots or plant structure can really compete with a whole hop plant the first year, is just blowing smoke. You get what you pay for - certified healthy commercial grade plants or rhizome sticks . GLH is, as their customers say- "the real deal". (checkout their Ebay customer comments)
Yes - rhizomes are cheaper, and Yes -if you are willing to wait an extra season while rhizomes redevelop a new hop plant;(and if you can get the varieties you want by preordering by all means go for the 'somes. Fresh hops and Northwest"s are the best out there. GLH's intent is simply to supply the best hop planting stock available and grow the renewed interest in hops.

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. . . an informed drinker or an educated drunk . . .

Greatlakeshops

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Thanks for the defense guys! And if anybody knows a way to ship a big hop crown for less than $10.95 USPS let me know.

B-Hoppy

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Give it to me and I'll piggy-back it on a candy shipment! Happy Holidays man!

oconnor1981

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I have now looked at GLHs FB page and I have my companies mixed up...there is a similarly named company in MN that I have bought a lot through and they sell good products however they have their hands into growing everything and thus are not the best available for any one product. GLH appear to put out superior products to what I've previously seen available for plants.

My question is this...other than the instant gratification of a plant with growth/greenery how are they better than a decent size rhizome. Including my hops and other perennials I have had greater success with root stock than plants because the rootstock adapts to the new soil venue and don't have replant shock issues like a plant.

I'm not trying to start an argument just trying to get more experience/knowledge from other hop growers and producers...and I likely have to add a couple varieties to my garden this next Spring. For the sake of seeing for myself ill have to go with some GLH plants to see how they compare to rhizome stock I've gotten in the past.

Labratbrew

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I'll let you know how mine grow in late summer!

2BeerSpeer

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From what i've read there is little chance for the crown to go into shock as the plant is dormant...I wish I'd took pics of mine before i planted them so you could see how big these guys are! I'll let you know how the first year goes!

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Keg #1 --- Empty
Keg #2 --- Empty

I need a keezer!!!

Greatlakeshops

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A big difference in GLH's stock from a lot of others is that I operate a clean stock program like the National Clean Plant Program set up by the Feds. All our plants (and growing methods) are licensed and inspected by the USDA. I am a CIP -continous improvement program- grower/supplier.

Also, as a dedicated propagator,(I am not a field producer) I continually select for the best performing plants of each variety IN EACH CROP CYCLE. If I see a superior plant of Cascade, for example, that has better crown structure, bud break, better yield -I will use that plant as a propagation mother plant. (Right now I have 2 "new" Cascades that perform better than the "standard".) This is a big diff compared to a field grower who simply cuts rhizomes from the same plant year after year and sells them as a sideline. Many home growers don't really care about this; but a commercial grower who is trying to make money with the best yields possible sure does!
Certified stock takes a lot of testing, time, money, and effort to grow and maintain. (GLH doesn't get to offset its production costs with a harvest of hop cones, either.) And I chuckle every time someone says we just stick a cutting In a nutshell, that's why GLH hops cost more than the run-of the-mill hops. I guess it comes down to - Is a pedigreed pooch worth more than a mutt? Answer: Depends on the buyer . . .

Some people also wonder why GLH participates in a home brew site - The answer is simple. I see value in having the discussion to put forward more accurate information about growing hops. I hope GLH's presence here encourages others to participate in adding to HBT's site as being the "go to" site for good, accurate info. Brew on!

B-Hoppy

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I more than totally agree. There's a big difference from reading information from various sources and actually having hands-on experience about a subject. And, there's a big difference from having hands-on experience (without an agricultural background), and having hands-on experience AFTER being educated in that particular subject. Many things become very clear when you specialize in an area of growing that are difficult to explain to someone who doesn't have either the hands-on experience or the ag. background. Thanks for trying to bring it all together!