2010 Hops Gardens

[Jaysus]

I need a trellis - any suggestions?

I live in a townhouse, and have a 3rd year Mt. Hood that is awfully close to my neighbor's deck. I am considering making a PVC "T" and running some rope from it, as I have crudely diagrammed below.

Do you have any thoughts, comments, or suggestions?

 

[CaliBrewin]

i dont think that location (in between the two porches) would be ideal as it would hinder the amount of sunlight to reach the plants after they sprout. id say bring the trellis away from the wall a good 4 feet or so..

also, which direction is that wall facing? south is best, for maximum sunlight exposure on the northern hemisphere.

 

[Dacino]

My 2010 Hop and Beer Garden. You showed me yours, now I show you mine

Planted 4/1/2010 near Chicago IL. Cascade, Chinook, and Northern Brewer's. Dug 3 holes about 18 inches deep and filled with garden soil, mushroom compost, perlite and sphagnum peet moss for drainage, and slow release fertilizer. Took a couple weeks for all of em to break the surface.

Do not use Sisal Rope! For me it swells up with water and shortens its length. I did not account for this and it pulled my 5ft Cascade bine right off the rizome.

The ropes are tied to the top of an unused antenna.


Cascade is doin the best, about 5 ft today.


As long as I'm at it, here is the Beer Garden. One of the bushes are St Johns Wart. Last year the Japanese Beetles LOVED it, hoping it keeps them away from the hops.


Old Man River, came home to find all 200 lbs of him as a gift in my yard, he adds some character to the yard.

 

[Randar]

Nice, I work in Rolling Ghettos... let me know if you want to do a homebrew exchange sometime.

 

[Oaky]

I need a trellis - any suggestions?

I live in a townhouse, and have a 3rd year Mt. Hood that is awfully close to my neighbor's deck. I am considering making a PVC "T" and running some rope from it, as I have crudely diagrammed below.

Do you have any thoughts, comments, or suggestions?

I would use your deck and attach 2x10 all along and have that create a wall/cover. You can create a bit of a canopy if you want to get fancy. Just drill them with screws right into your posts on your deck and put one piece of wood on top. if you want to get fancy create a support with additional studs and add some lattice ($10 for a 4x8 at Home Depot). Instant summer coverage - image being surrounded by hops in August.

 

[Retrofit]

Your association may not allow you to alter the building. If you can, I would put bolts with a loop at the end just under your awning, then run rops from there to the ground.

That would let them climb to their full potential.

I could also see using the corner of your deck as a brace and putting up a 10' pole, possible wood so it compliments the deck, then have the hops grow up that.

I would use a rope hanging from the pole to the ground, something where you can release more rope as needed so the hops can continue to grow.

My issue with a traditional trellis is trying to collect them at the end of the year. I like the hops in a straight line. Lower the rope, pick the hops, move on.

Hope the ideas help.

 

[Jaysus]

Thank you both for your suggestions... I was looking for something quick and easy, but it seems I overlooked the easiest option of using the deck.

P.S. my association sucks, but they have no real power - as long as my neighbor is cool with it I will be ok... and my neighbor is cool (she's a wine drinker though )

ETA: next year I am going to build a "privacy trellis" - I think that would be cool.

 

[atomicflatulence]

Make some wine for the neighbor.

 

[Retrofit]

You gotta make the neighbor happy! I've got 14 10' poles in my backyard, I gotta make the neighbor happy!

I guess I want to add, I like your original design, I was just tossing out ideas to consider. I think if you ran your original system it would be fine. On the side of my house, I have the eye hooks and ropes and the hops run straight up the house. In my backyard I have an upside down "L" with ropes hanging from the arm of the pole so hops can run up those. At 10', I release more rope so they can keep growing up. If think any system will work if hops have the chance to grow 'up'.

The last point I would consider is whatever you do, make sure the trellis can support the hops in a heavy wind or storm. A crashing trellis will likely ruin your 1st year hop and even worse cause mistrust in your neighbor. Good luck!

 

[aphid_rancher]

Oh yes, the Mt Hood has already made it to the second story eave with the Cascades getting close. My new Chinook is however about a foot high. No bugs yet either!

 

[pipapat]

salt lake magnum.

 

[brewingkitty]

my cascade, galena, nugget, and santiam are all over 6 feet now! (only ~2 months old) willamette must be dead.

 

[fred_zepp]

^^^ Don't be too upset over the Willamette...mine did almost nothing the first year...and took longer than everything else to start growing. That is unless its really dead.

 

[brewingkitty]

i have nothing above ground on it. i'm fearful if i dig it up, i could break off a shoot if it is in hibernation. next year i'll buy 2 of em so i have a better shot at it.

 

[SAMPLER]

My willamette's is only 10inch tall and my cascades are over 6ft. The leaves and shoot looking healthy but it's just a super slow grower comparatively. Thee are first years for me too, but I'm hoping they will grow tall and healthy and maybe even produce a few ounces.

Stay positive

 

[SteveM]

Geez, my Cascades are out of control - hundreds of flowers already, looking like more than last year even. Ridiculous - I will have to give out freebies to friends and relatives who brew.

The Mount Hoods, though, are pretty much no-shows for the second year in a row...but it's early.

 

[HoppyDaze]

Steve...

I don't believe you! Post a pic

 

[SteveM]

Well, since I didn't spring to be a premium supporter, I can't - but if you send me an email address, I will send you a picture. I can hardly believe it myself.

 

[Bombo80]

I used 1 3/4" galvanized pipe, with half concrete footing tubes with a pvc tube insert, as the base. I use a turnbuckle to secure it to the roof of the garage. These are 20' tall, 8' wide. This way I can take it down after harvest. My hops are growing like weeds. One is 22' tall, and the next is almost 20'. I'm going to prune the tops to keep them at the 20' level, or slightly lower.

 

[lschiavo]

I found these in my backyard last year. That is what acutally got me started brewing. I strung some cable and a ton of twine to try and make harvesting easier this year. These things are everywhere! I have no idea what variety they may be but they make beer!

just reaching the cable about 20-ft.

the front section growing out of a pile of rocks​

in the back. a bunch I could not get twines to.​

 

[benmoore]

I planted two Mt Hood plants a little late. But this is after two weeks, so I'm happy.

 

[SteveM]

I'll be darned if I can figure out how to post pictures, so here's a link to some on FB of my current crop:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#!/photo.php?pid=1411016&id=1152825009&fbid=1485413652639

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#!/photo.php?pid=1411017&id=1152825009&fbid=1485413732641

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#!/photo.php?pid=1411018&id=1152825009&fbid=1485413812643

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#!/photo.php?pid=1411019&id=1152825009&fbid=1485413852644

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#!/photo.php?pid=1411020&id=1152825009&fbid=1485413932646

I put the hat into the one picture for scale, though it wasn't really necessary.

 

[Jaysus]

I'll be darned if I can figure out how to post pictures, so here's a link to some on FB of my current crop:

I put the hat into the one picture for scale, though it wasn't really necessary.

Looking good!

 

[zman]

This is mine. All first year. The Sterling just got strung up yesterday

 

[zman]

Hree are the first pictures of my first ever Hop Garden. The plants are in ther ground and some are growing quite well other are a little slow. My trellis (modelled after Bobby M video and advise) has yet to make into the final assembly stages but hopefully by the end of the weekend it will be in place and looking good.

(from left to right: Willamettes, Fuggles, Cascades, Nugget)

Cascades

Nugget

Here is most of my time was spent the last few days. The fmaily's new outdoor sitting area. Looking good and pretty darn enjoyable.

Cheers

Good call on the Marigolds!!:rockin:

 

[rhoadsrage]

Here are my "hop people". They are about 12 ft tall wood frames that are attached to conduit ~6 ft into the ground. That way they sway a bit in the wind. There is 1 Nugget, 1 Cascade, 1 Fuggle and 1 Willamette. This is from about a month ago.

 

[benmoore]

you should make a smoking blend out of marigold and hops.

 

[magnj]

Here are my most recent shots, I'm wondering on some of them if they are ready to pick, they are browning...thoughts? (Click for HUGE)

 

[mikebiewer]

UPDATE: June 2010

Here is an update of my hops farm. Things are coming in, but we are dealing with some crazy ass thistles. Check it out.

Hops Farm Update June 2010

 

[Moose777]

LOL, I planted about 8 rhizomes and the only one tghat came up was the one in the pot..extra large cascade