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Aerolithe · 03-21-2011, 06:29 AM

I just started brewing, but the time is right to be planting rhizomes and I want to get started now so I can get a good yield in a year or two. My mom has a real green thumb, and is also going to grow some hops for me out at her place (we both live in zone 6). I already ordered some stuff for her on freshops, their recommended cascade, magnum, and nugget, and a sterling rhizome too. I really like cascade and have used it on single hop batches twice so far, and it seems that magnum and nugget are mostly bittering hops. I want to balance them out with some aroma varieties in the hop yard I get going here. Most of my favorite styles are wheat beers, which seem to use a lot of noble hops. I also want to be sure to go with something that will do well in my area and something that is easy to keep healthy. I was considering growing cascade, mt. hood, and williamette here, but wanted some feedback before I order the second batch. Any suggestions or general hop growing tips?

Suthrncomfrt1884 · 03-21-2011, 01:11 PM

Those are the three I started with. I can't say anything for you're climate...but williamette does horrible in Northern Illinois. It took three years before I got anything useable out of the plant, and even then, it was only an ounce. The other two do great in my area.

**frailn** · 03-21-2011, 02:20 PM

This will be my first year growing hops, as well. I am in zone 5 (Kansas City). You stated that you like wheat beers, I love traditional hefeweizen, so I bought two Mount Hood rhizomes. They are hybrids of hallertau, which seem to be used in German wheat beers, but they are more resistant to disease. So, I would suggest Mount Hood to go with the wheat beers you brew...

beeber · 03-21-2011, 03:38 PM

Cascade, mt. hood, and williamette are all good choices. A higher alpha acid hop might be good too, something like chinook or centennial.

DannPM · 03-21-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frailn

This will be my first year growing hops, as well. I am in zone 5 (Kansas City). You stated that you like wheat beers, I love traditional hefeweizen, so I bought two Mount Hood rhizomes. They are hybrids of hallertau, which seem to be used in German wheat beers, but they are more resistant to disease. So, I would suggest Mount Hood to go with the wheat beers you brew...

I'm moving to OP from Merriam here in a few days, to a house! So I'll be ordering some here pretty soon so I can plant them when the time comes. W00t w00t for OP!

I'm thinking Mount Hood as well as the Kent Goldings.

I heard on the Sunday Session that you want to make a mound of dirt so there is a small hill to drain well away from the base of the plant to prevent mold.

CrookedTail · 03-21-2011, 06:15 PM

I'm taking a shot at growing my own hops as well. I just bought some Hallertau and Tettnager (I love German beers) to try and grow. Hopefully I get something out of them.

**Retrofit** · 03-21-2011, 07:43 PM

I'm in Chicagoland and my wilmette has never produced. My chinook is amazing. Cascade always does well. And my mt hood is on the low end but a producer.

**frailn** · 03-22-2011, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DannPM

I'm moving to OP from Merriam here in a few days, to a house! So I'll be ordering some here pretty soon so I can plant them when the time comes. W00t w00t for OP!

I'm thinking Mount Hood as well as the Kent Goldings.

I heard on the Sunday Session that you want to make a mound of dirt so there is a small hill to drain well away from the base of the plant to prevent mold.

Welcome to Overland Park! I'm in a small apartment, so I will be planting my hops in a large container and running them up the side of a fence.