Hop bine acclimation

[DryWolf]

I have a chinook and Vojvodina plant that were planted in pots in my Garage about a month ago. They were plugs as opposed to rhizomes and have really taken off, now having about 2 three foot bines on each plant. I'd like to put them in the ground soon but have been holding off as I'm in central MT and it can still easily freeze at night. My question is, how much acclimation will these plants need before going into the ground? Should I gradually acclimate the plants in pots to more sun and cold nights or just plant and hope for new shoots if the initial bines don't make it?

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Hops are remarkably freeze resistant. I say put them in the ground! I've been around Central MT enough to know what you mean by "spring." They might be upset about it for a little bit but they will survive. I tried to kill my hops 3 times last year and it didn't work. I cut off all the bines. Then I took them from 80 degrees to frozen solid and snowing. And then the deer ate them all. I moved over the winter and now they are cranking away! I love hops. They make almost anyone look like they have a green thumb!