Oxbow
Well-Known Member
Figured it was time to post a little about my big spring project. This year I decided to grow our small farm a little more by expanding into the hops business.
The idea was to start small, but try to do it right the first time. I ordered 150 rhizomes (100 cascade and 50 centennial) and put the rest of the plans in motion - making arrangements for poles, trellis supplies, and getting the ground prepped.
My trellis is 17ft above ground, the top wire is 3/16" 7x19 aircraft cable, bottom wire is high tensile fence wire, and using coir twine.
I have enough materials on site already to expand the yard by another 100 plants next year. If things go well and the demand proves its worth additional investment, I would like to just go ahead with getting the infrastructure for the expansion in place this fall so we are ready to move much more quickly in the spring.
Since everything started from rhizomes that were planted a bit late, things are slow but are progressing pretty well I think. As of tonight 22 rhizomes had sprouted tall enough bines to start to wrap around the twine which is 1-1.5ft off the ground. I still need to get the irrigation installed but we've been getting so much rain so far this spring that certainly hasn't been a problem yet.
I still have a lot to learn, but growing hops has been something I've wanted to do for a while now so it's nice to finally make it happen. This is also the year I'm transitioning to all grain brewing, which is exciting in itself.
I just wanted to say I appreciate all the knowledge on this board and the people that I have PM'd have been very helpful as well. Thanks!
The idea was to start small, but try to do it right the first time. I ordered 150 rhizomes (100 cascade and 50 centennial) and put the rest of the plans in motion - making arrangements for poles, trellis supplies, and getting the ground prepped.
My trellis is 17ft above ground, the top wire is 3/16" 7x19 aircraft cable, bottom wire is high tensile fence wire, and using coir twine.
I have enough materials on site already to expand the yard by another 100 plants next year. If things go well and the demand proves its worth additional investment, I would like to just go ahead with getting the infrastructure for the expansion in place this fall so we are ready to move much more quickly in the spring.
Since everything started from rhizomes that were planted a bit late, things are slow but are progressing pretty well I think. As of tonight 22 rhizomes had sprouted tall enough bines to start to wrap around the twine which is 1-1.5ft off the ground. I still need to get the irrigation installed but we've been getting so much rain so far this spring that certainly hasn't been a problem yet.
I still have a lot to learn, but growing hops has been something I've wanted to do for a while now so it's nice to finally make it happen. This is also the year I'm transitioning to all grain brewing, which is exciting in itself.
I just wanted to say I appreciate all the knowledge on this board and the people that I have PM'd have been very helpful as well. Thanks!
