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Distance needed between 2 species of hops

Discussion in 'Hops Growing' started by Terek, Dec 24, 2015.

 

  1. #1
    Terek

    "Did I just drop down a rabbit hole?"

    Posted Dec 24, 2015
    I finally bought a farm, and have been looking for a good one for years. So now i have plenty of space for growing hops, but am trying to figure out how i want it set up. I have a 3 year old cascade plant behind the shop at my work, so i will gather some from it, and wanted to buy 3 other species.

    My question is, how far apart do the different species need to be from on another, so they dont cross breed. A buddy told me they cant be too close together. I have looked around on the web, and really cant find a strait up answer. Is distance a problem? Can they cross breed by themselves? Or can i just line up all of them on one line?
     
  2. #2
    stpug

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Dec 24, 2015
    It's not necessarily about cross-breeding; it's about the bines intertwining between different varieties and you not know what's what come harvest time. The recommended distance is 5 feet for differing varieties and 3 feet for same variety.

    Several of mine grow together at the top and I just harvest them all together and dry. As it's a mix of several C hops and no true noble hops, I call this my "Pale Ale Blend" ;)
     
    Terek likes this.
  3. #3
    day_trippr

    We live in interesting times...

    Posted Dec 25, 2015
    ^Right^. If you get the basics right, there will never be "cross-breeding" as there won't be any male plants.

    Interspecies intertwining can be a bitch. 5 foot spacing would be the minimum to avoid it, imo...

    Cheers!
     
  4. #4
    Terek

    "Did I just drop down a rabbit hole?"

    Posted Dec 25, 2015
    you just gotta keep up with pruning to keep em appart, which i do already. I prune the crap out of them. Gives you less hops, but you get big fat juicy cones like thei got this year. see pic :)

    WP_20150805_12_03_41_Pro.jpg
     
  5. #5
    B-Hoppy

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Dec 26, 2015
    Great to hear. As long as you side cut them every year you can pretty much keep different varieties a few feet apart without the rhizomes creeping from one crown to the other. Hops look good!
     
  6. #6
    Terek

    "Did I just drop down a rabbit hole?"

    Posted Dec 26, 2015
    thanks all. this is what i thought, but people were telling me otherwise.
     
  7. #7
    GVH_Dan

    Well-Known Member  

    Posted Dec 27, 2015
    As others said, no cross breeding to worry about, just bines intertangling. Someone mentioned 5 feet. I would agree if they aren't connected at the top wire.

    In other words, if there is a physical bridge for them to grow across, the bines will get together pretty quickly. So 8 to 10 feet is better. If there isn't a physical way to bridge across, the only way they can intertangle is if the side arms are blowing in the wind and somehow connect. In that case, 5 feet should be enough, though you may want to have a weedwacker on a pole to separate them.
     
  8. #8
    pigroaster

    Member  

    Posted Dec 29, 2015
    I have two lines above on pulleys (so I can lower them) This way I alternate varieties when I tie up climbing twine so they don't get mixed up when I harvest them. One variety on first pulley line. Next variety on second line. Third variety on first line and continue. Works for me.
     
    Terek likes this.
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