Growing Hops in Central Texas (Austin)

[BlondeBrewChick]

Hi, I just moved to Austin and was wondering if anyone has sucessfully grown hops here. We have a huge yard and just starting to homebrew.

 

[Kerrbrewer]

One of my co-workers is growing cascade and nb. The nb looks like its unhappy.

 

[BlondeBrewChick]

Thanks ! Just bought 3 cascade plants and 3 Kent Golding

 

[Texconsinite]

I have first yr Cascade, Neo1 and Multihead growing here in North Houston. already got over an oz from cascade. They shoudl like it in Austin even more than here

 

[BlondeBrewChick]

Good to know!

 

[Texconsinite]

Whats been interesting for me is to watch how differently the two Neo hops (neo1 & multihead) grow. Earlier in the season, the multihead grew well, but seemed like it was trying to be a bush first, and a climbing vine second. It trying to send out bines through the fence, or wrapping around neighboring plants while not seeming to be interested in climbing the twine. Once i trained enough bines onto the lines they all started going up. Now it seems to have stalled out at about 12ft high

One thing i notice now about the multihead is how much less the heat seems to affect it than the Cascade. Much less browning and "burn" on the Multihead, the Cascade needs more water, more often or it starts to get crispy.

The neo1 sent out few sidearms , just one thin bine that climbed up about 4 ft, and a few others that started to do the same, then stalled a few weeks ago and started to shrivel. I tried fertilizing and watering, but within the last few days, my Neo1 have died, while the other two continue to do well.. Great Lakes Hops, who I got them from, shed some light on possible reasons.

Neo1 is hard to grow in containers filled with potting soil, because its native environment is New Mexico Desert, so it needs good drainage. They do much better in the ground. Also they are susceptible to soggy conditions (which we've had plenty of here in houston)

Their website also listed them as a "true sun-loving hop" that likes max sunlight, and mine had some crepe myrtles and banana trees west of them that blocked some of the afternoon sun.

Again, should be easier in Austin with drier conditions, just hope this helps.

My friend who grew the other neo1 and multihead rhizome when I ordered 2 of each has had an different experience (living only 1 mile away). He grew both of his in one of his old 5G buckets, growing up a trellis against his fence, and the Multihead bushed out in every direction, while the neo1 has now grown up to the top of the trellis Both his are still doing well. He gave his alot less nutrients and watering than I did, so perhaps my yard's irrigation system, and my meddling, was just too much for Neo1.

Anyways, in spite of my fallen soldier, I still think the Neomexicanus is well-suited for the Texas heat, and will likely be ordering a willow creek to replace the neo1, as they are said to be more moisture tolerant than the other neomexicanus (including neo1)

The other thing i notice is how much of a difference it seems to make how early you plant. The cascade was from a rhizome I got from a family friend at chirstmas time, and after sittign in the fridge for a few weeks, I just stuck it in a planter of old compost in February. The other two were actual field grade plants I recieved in May. The cascade has so many burrs on it and already had given 1oz of dried hops, and has thicker bines and sidearms than the multihead, which still doesn't have burrs yet. That head start has made a big difference, so don't think its too late this season to get plants started for next year.

Hope that info dump helps you other TX growers

 

[Chadzero]

I had a huge issue with spider mites on all of my plants last year. I would recommend hitting the leaves with water when you water the soil. They really thrive in dry environments. I haven't seen a sign of them this year after doing that.

 

[damien5000]

I have a cascade growing on the west side of the house that i planted 3 yrs ago. It grew much better in the denver colorado area before i dug it up and moved it down here to north Dallas.
I haven't bothered to train it, i just let it go up a string and in to the crepe myrtle. It grows vigorously in the spring and the peaks out quickly at about gutter height and makes a dozen small cones and then goes a bit dormant and scraggly in the heat of June-July. However, in August despite the heat it started to grow more and put out a whole lot more cones of different sizes, that I just harvested some of (end of August). I remember reading something about day length affecting hops so perhaps being this far south is confusing the plant. Maybe i can improve the crop if it train it better and up the water next year. It's not in a pot and I did put a lot of compost and fertilizer on it. It had a few spider mites in 2014 but nothing this year.


here are a couple pics of it

 

[tplato12]

I live in south Houston, closer to Galveston. I started a Brewers gold and a Mt. Hood about the same time as you. My Brewers Gold took off and got to about 15 feet. It's on its 3rd and final harvest.

My mount hood has been slow going because the first 3 feet or so it was covered from the sun by a bush but it is now about 12 ft and continuing. No signs of hop development yet but I bet I can get at least two harvests out of it before our mild winter picks up.

As for the heat, I just water them a bit every day and look for stressed signs, my Brewers gold developed some male flowers but I don't believe they bloomed and on its second harvest it seemed to be overrun with asps! Had to be very careful harvesting.

 

[B-Hoppy]

Just throwing this out there, but if you have a fb account, here's an individual growing towards the gulf. It doesn't look like they have a webpage so you may have to contact them through fb: https://www.facebook.com/BBounty12/posts/901899146598381:0

 

[Vellum]

I grow hops in/near Austin (actually bee cave). They are all first year, I planted two rhizomes each of cascade, centennial, crystal, and williamette. The cascade are flourishing, the centennial and williamette had a hard year with some powdery milder, and the crystal is not effected by the mildew but has only produced a limited amount of cones.

I am interested to see how they all perform in their second year. I will give the Centennial, Crystal, and Williamette two more years (they will be three year old plants) to figure it out or else I will swap to all cascade.

All of my rhizomes were planted in raised garden beds and were on drip irrigation.

 

[Vellum]

This is a pretty good thread (or at least it starts out that way) regarding Edwort's experience growing hops near Bee Cave, TX (20 min outside of Austin in the hillcountry).

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=26406

 

[BambiL]

I'm north of Houston in Hempstead. This will be my first year to grow hops. Where did you get your rhizomes? Local or internet?

 

[BPO]

I have grow hops in San Antonio. I had plant for 3 years and then they died. The second and third year I got a good amount off of two plants. Every year I fought off spider mites. They really do thrive here and love hops. I never saw the spider mites anywhere else in the yard. They can kill the plant in less then a week.