Growing Hops In Florida Tampa Area

[Demus]

Any of the C hops. They smell and taste like you'd expect. No need to uproot in the winter either. Doesn't really get cold enough to worry about that.

I was thinking the not cold enough thing would require uprooting them and putting them in the fridge to ensure they go dormant in the winter. The die back fully down here in the winter? Or is this not required?

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

I was thinking the not cold enough thing would require uprooting them and putting them in the fridge to ensure they go dormant in the winter. The die back fully down here in the winter? Or is this not required?

That's an interesting point I don't know the answer to. So far only a couple of my bines died back. I still have one bine, around 12ft, that's just hanging out. I will say though, most plants can grow year round in Florida. Since the winters are so mild it's pretty much veg and flower lol.

 

[BrokenArmBrewing]

Just planted 2012 hope in the ground. I half to say that magnum had thick roots all the way to the bottom of the pot. Each plant had one bine that was still flexable but I cur everything back. There are signs of new growth from the roots and from the below the old bines. I will try to cut all bines back except for the 3 strongest. And will try to update photos as needed.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

Just planted 2012 hope in the ground. I half to say that magnum had thick roots all the way to the bottom of the pot. Each plant had one bine that was still flexable but I cur everything back. There are signs of new growth from the roots and from the below the old bines. I will try to cut all bines back except for the 3 strongest. And will try to update photos as needed.

Hell yea, look forward to following the project!

 

[Ddubduder]

Just planted 2012 hope in the ground.

I just planted Centennial, Galena and Willamette about a week ago, I'm in the North Tampa area. We'll have to compare growing notes to see which plants grow better down here. Got mine from Great Lakes too.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

My bets on whoever uses nuclear turtle water

 

[Ddubduder]

Does recycled pond water count? Kinda close.... Haha

 

[BrokenArmBrewing]

Does recycled pond water count? Kinda close.... Haha

No pond water here, bits dog poop..not that ill use it ....

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

lol its not quite the same as nuclear turtle water but fish emulsion will do about the same thing. High in nitrogen, which hops love, and breaks down really fast compared to nutes that have to decay first. Its also good for the bio activity of the soil. To sum it up, its like organic steroids for plants. Water em with some every other week and they will love you for it, especially when coning.

 

[Demus]

So what's the down side to Florida if they grow well? Yield? Pest infestation? I haven't seen too many hop fields down here; must be a reason!

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

So what's the down side to Florida if they grow well? Yield? Pest infestation? I haven't seen too many hop fields down here; must be a reason!

I would assume they grow better in their preferred climate. Which would result in bigger and higher quality yields. Bugs can be a problem down here. I had one encounter with mites but the Organicide took care of everything once I started using it.

 

[BrokenArmBrewing]

It has a lot to do with location. The prime growing area is both north and south 48* latitude. Something about the long days and the season that causes the plant to bud, flower, dye off and start again. Think Sam Adams latitude 48. That's how it got its name.

While they will grow here, its not the best conditions.

 

[BrokenArmBrewing]

Key west. We answered at the same time. Not trying to jump your answer

 

[wilfonzo]

My cascades are starting to sprout already. The harvest wasn't all that great last year (first year) hoping for better this year.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

Key west. We answered at the same time. Not trying to jump your answer

We pretty much said the same thing with different words lol.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

My cascades are starting to sprout already. The harvest wasn't all that great last year (first year) hoping for better this year.

How many bines did you have? And how big of a pot? Or planted in ground?

 

[BrokenArmBrewing]

10:00 in Spring Hill and its 40 with threat if hard freeze. HOPS all snuggled in to their bed. Magnum off to a good start. 8 shoots growing and will keep the best 4. Fuggles off to a slower start. Plenty of growing season

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

Cuttin it close with the temps... I'm rootin for ya!!

 

[BrokenArmBrewing]

Yea. Sucks. Mother nature OS bro.h a b*tch tonight! They should be ok.

 

[Ddubduder]

Wow that's crazy, I'm just 20 mins south of you and it's still 50s around here. That's a crazy temp difference for such a small distance.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

Wow that's crazy, I'm just 20 mins south of you and it's still 50s around here. That's a crazy temp difference for such a small distance.

Which city or area has a higher population? The difference between temperature in the city verse the outskirts can be pretty big. A buddy of mine did it as an experiment for school once.

 

[Ddubduder]

Which city or area has a higher population? The difference between temperature in the city verse the outskirts can be pretty big. A buddy of mine did it as an experiment for school once.

I think Spring Hill and Land O Lakes are probably pretty similar. I would consider both to be outskirts. I'm about 30mi outside of Tampa and Spring Hill is a little further, maybe 15-20 miles further north.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

I dunno lol I was taking a shot in the dark.

 

[BrokenArmBrewing]

I think Spring Hill and Land O Lakes are probably pretty similar. I would consider both to be outskirts. I'm about 30mi outside of Tampa and Spring Hill is a little further, maybe 15-20 miles further north.

I would agree.

 

[Brewmech]

I'm in the brandon area and I have columbus and tea maker growing in the front yard. Put some sheets over them the other night and they are doing fine.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

How's everyone's plants doing? They all make it through the cold front?

 

[Ddubduder]

Luckily mine are in 20g pots so I just brought them inside so no damage here.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

Luckily mine are in 20g pots so I just brought them inside so no damage here.

Good to hear...That's the nice part about having em in pots. You can move em if need be. At least for now, once they start stretching they find a permanent home.

 

[BrokenArmBrewing]

All well! Covered them. That's magnum. Fuggles is just a few wee leaves

 

[Ddubduder]

This is probably the last week I'll be able to move them. The Galena is already at the top of the tomato cage I have it in, it's going to need a trellis or twine ASAP. Fingers crossed this is the last cold snap.