growing hops - how many?

[ThePrisoner]

I was interested in growing my own hops, I've got a decent amount of space in my backyard but I'm not sure how many rhizomes to buy.
I live in zone 4, possibly 3b climate wise but there's plenty of sunlight in the summer time.
I just want to do a few home brews but not sure how many dired hops I would need and therefore how many rhizomes to put in - I want it to be maneagable.
Also, I take it that it is easier to get malt extract rather than grow barley?

 

[cernst151]

I've got 2 hop mounds which started with about 4 rhizomes each. The first year I got enough to cover half of my hops for 1 IPA. The second year I got plenty for 1 DIPA, and I really didn't have to use all of it. The bines already have a lot of cones on them now. I'm looking forward to harvest.

Keep in mind it will take 2-3 years for your bines to ramp up to full production but that each year they'll also grow additional rhizomes so over time you can expand your growing setup. So, it all depends on how fast you want to ramp up production.

 

[ThePrisoner]

I've got 2 hop mounds which started with about 4 rhizomes each. The first year I got enough to cover half of my hops for 1 IPA. The second year I got plenty for 1 DIPA, and I really didn't have to use all of it. The bines already have a lot of cones on them now. I'm looking forward to harvest.

Keep in mind it will take 2-3 years for your bines to ramp up to full production but that each year they'll also grow additional rhizomes so over time you can expand your growing setup. So, it all depends on how fast you want to ramp up production.

Do you mean 4 rhizomes in each mound? I was only planning on taking 2 or 3 shoots from each rhizone and letting it wrap round some twine on a triangular layout pole (tent training). Maybe 3 mounds/3 rhizomes per pole.

I've seen 2 separate recommendations on planting time, some suggest in spring, others suggest you can plant the rhixomes in autumn (OCtober) before the 1st frost when they are dormant? There seem to be more on sale in springtime though?

 

[birdley123]

Get in touch with these guys, they have all the answers you're looking for; VERY knowledgeable...
http://www.greatlakeshops.com/

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

Just FYI the season is pretty much over unless your in the southern hemisphere.

They only sell rhizomes a month or so before the growing season starts, usually April/May. So set a reminder on your phone or calendar to check during that time.

 

[thaymond]

I recommend great Lakes hops. The difference between a first year plant and a rhizome is vast. My plants this year are going crazy in their boxes. The rhizome I cut from my 3rd year nugget is only 6 feet tall. Compare that to over 25' of growth with he first year plants. Order in March/April and plant after the threat of frost is over.

 

[ThePrisoner]

Just FYI the season is pretty much over unless your in the southern hemisphere.

They only sell rhizomes a month or so before the growing season starts, usually April/May. So set a reminder on your phone or calendar to check during that time.

I was planning ahead
Although, I did see some recommendations for planting rhizomes in autumn ahead of the frost when they are dormant? Bearing in mind it gets down to -40 where I am in Quebec.

 

[cernst151]

I planted mine in spring and they did great. I even got some hops the first year.

 

[drewsk]

I'm not going to be able to confirm or deny the ability of a hop rhizome to be planted and go dormant in the fall- but I will comment that it may be next to impossible to purchase rhizomes after June/July.

I planted 6 hop plants last June and in their first year they did well but only produced enough hops for ~1 batch. The aromatics of their first year just aren't great. That said, this year they are going b-a-n-a-n-a-s... it's going to take quite some time to harvest these 6 plants.

 

[solbes]

I bought one rhizo of 3 varieties at our lake place up north (zone 3a I believe). They do well, but the hop cones are always smaller becaues I'm not there to water them very often, every other week is our usual visit schedule. I get enough dry hops and aroma hops for one brew each now (last years harvest was year 3).

I bought a single rhizo of Chinook and Centennial and planted in my backyard garden at our house. They really took off well and I should get enough to dry hop and flavor an IPA in the first year. Cones are already getting to be decent sized and its only Aug 1.

 

[johngaltsmotor]

I bought 4 rhizomes ?4? years ago. They spread like wildfire and I now have about 15 trainable sprouts spread along the 30ft row. I spaced them to prevent mingling and they spread to fill the available area.
My best harvest was I believe just over 2lb dry of Zeus last year while my Hallertau and Mt Hood were like 4oz each (my high AAs produce MUCH more than my low AAs). That's without watering and not trimming much so they are not at all ideal, they have way too much foliage and not enough water. YRMV

 

[MollyHatchet]

I bought two rhizomes four to six years ago. The first year I got eight or nine ounces, and then after that it just went up from there. I only have cascade, wish I had a few other varieties, but I found I get so much off of them, I just wouldn't have time or, space in the freezer to store them. Last year I harvested three pounds twelve ounces, that's dried weight. That and along with the pellet hops I do by my one shelf area would be stuffed to the max, not to mention the time to harvest and dry several more pounds. I usually pick a three gallon bucket full at one time, which usually take close to an hour, and three or four days to air dry. I guess you would need to look at time, need and storage space in deciding what will work for you. I love having the hops growing and consider them to be free since the costs of the bines have since been paid back many, many times over.


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