mattm3
Active Member
I have hops growing in my yard. It's the second year. Last year they didn't get all that tall. This year they are already near 9 feet it seems. I have one plant and I put it next to this odd swing frame that is in my yard. It's a large upside down "U" about 8 feet tall made of 4" steel pipe. The first bine that came up, I trained to the pipe. It wrapped around the pipe with no problem then once it got about 5 feet, I tied a long bamboo pole to the pipe and trained it up that. It's now growing fine up that and beyond my reach.
My question is this... what is the reason that hops is grown in a single bine up a piece of twine? Can't I just grow as many bines that come up straight up this metal pipe and let them grow how they want? I can still harvest them with a ladder. I've seen them grow in the wild and they just grow all over the place. What's the purpose in training them up a single twine? Any reason other than ease in harvesting?
My question is this... what is the reason that hops is grown in a single bine up a piece of twine? Can't I just grow as many bines that come up straight up this metal pipe and let them grow how they want? I can still harvest them with a ladder. I've seen them grow in the wild and they just grow all over the place. What's the purpose in training them up a single twine? Any reason other than ease in harvesting?