Got Trub?
Well-Known Member
I've had some Cascade and Willamette hop vines growing for 7 years and thought I'd pass on some tips for those of you thinking of growing your own.
1) They spread. No really if you don't contain them they will spread...everywhere
2) They grow quickly during the spring so be prepared to have their trellis/string or whatever you are going to use ready and in place quickly after you see them sprout
3) The vines have a very rough surface that will give you a nasty "rope burn". Don't grow them somewhere people walk through or where kids will play unless you plan on keeping them pruned back - see also tip #2
4) Here in the PNW aphids attack them. Ladybugs are your friends. The vines are soon covered in ladybug larvae and hardly an aphid to be found
5) You can train them and they will go horizontal if you keep winding them around something.
6) A food dehydrator is great for drying the cones when you harvest them. Just use the lowest setting - and do it inside if you want to smell hop nirvana.
I'm sure others will have lots of tips and will hopefully add them.
GT
1) They spread. No really if you don't contain them they will spread...everywhere
2) They grow quickly during the spring so be prepared to have their trellis/string or whatever you are going to use ready and in place quickly after you see them sprout
3) The vines have a very rough surface that will give you a nasty "rope burn". Don't grow them somewhere people walk through or where kids will play unless you plan on keeping them pruned back - see also tip #2
4) Here in the PNW aphids attack them. Ladybugs are your friends. The vines are soon covered in ladybug larvae and hardly an aphid to be found
5) You can train them and they will go horizontal if you keep winding them around something.
6) A food dehydrator is great for drying the cones when you harvest them. Just use the lowest setting - and do it inside if you want to smell hop nirvana.
I'm sure others will have lots of tips and will hopefully add them.
GT