How to grow hops on the fence!

[GVH_Dan]

Let me get this straight, every year I tear the bines off of the fence and throw away after picking?

Also, I'm thinking about growing cascades for now since their my favorite hop. What should I expect from two rhizomes on my first year?

You don't HAVE to tear the bines out every year. But if you don't, you'll end up with all this dead mass stuck in the fence. Eventually, the new bine won't be able to find room to lash on.

Is it a metal fence? I'm thinking...burn them out? Not the safest but I like fire.

First year varies depending on the soil nutrient, the strength of the rhizome you got, whether you are a nice person or not and the alignment of Jupiter. I've had bines in a pot give me 1/2 pound the first year and bines in properly prepared soil give me nothing for 2 years. Plan on getting nothing and be pleasantly surprised if you get anything.

 

[HalfPint]

You don't HAVE to tear the bines out every year. But if you don't, you'll end up with all this dead mass stuck in the fence. Eventually, the new bine won't be able to find room to lash on.

Is it a metal fence? I'm thinking...burn them out? Not the safest but I like fire.

First year varies depending on the soil nutrient, the strength of the rhizome you got, whether you are a nice person or not and the alignment of Jupiter. I've had bines in a pot give me 1/2 pound the first year and bines in properly prepared soil give me nothing for 2 years. Plan on getting nothing and be pleasantly surprised if you get anything.

lol well said. I'm begining to think that if I grow them in a pot it will be much easier to transport them when need be. so how low do you trim the rhizome where it comes out of the soil every year?

 

[Randar]

lol well said. I'm begining to think that if I grow them in a pot it will be much easier to transport them when need be. so how low do you trim the rhizome where it comes out of the soil every year?

Are you talking about the rhizome itself or the buds and they emerge from the soil?

 

[jeri]

My plan is to plant them along an ugly chain link fence in hopes of also getting a nicer looking fence along with the hops. Just bought the house last spring and replacing the ugly fence just isn't in the budget. If they look anything like those photos I'll be thrilled.

 

[HalfPint]

My plan is to plant them along an ugly chain link fence in hopes of also getting a nicer looking fence along with the hops. Just bought the house last spring and replacing the ugly fence just isn't in the budget. If they look anything like those photos I'll be thrilled.

Well he has twine ran, so unless you went out there and picked the path for them to grow, I don't think it will look like that.

 

[Cliff897]

These were first year hops. They grow much bigger and bushier now and cover the whole fence. It works fine if the fence is getting good sun. You just have to spend 5 minutes a day training them to where you want them to grow. Oh yes, and the missus actually LIKES them!

Oh my~!! Sort of gives a whole new perspective to growing 'em.

I got an old stone building that's falling in on itself. There is a spring inside the building. I wonder if hops would cover the thing. Seems they'd do it pretty quickly.

What do you do to control bugs and blight?

 

[Retrofit]

My first year Cascade grew about 25' tall and produced a whooping 3 oz of dried hops. My total lack of experience fighting Japanese Beetles in addition to adjusting my soil to accomodate my hops needs likely influenced my yield. That I got anything at all, I consider a sucess.

 

[HalfPint]

My first year Cascade grew about 25' tall and produced a whooping 3 oz of dried hops. My total lack of experience fighting Japanese Beetles in addition to adjusting my soil to accomodate my hops needs likely influenced my yield. That I got anything at all, I consider a sucess.

So what advice do you have for soil conditioning and bug control?

 

[Oaky]

I tried about 8-10 varietals last year. Only 3 produced any kind of hops. Tettnang did fantatisc for me in Michigan. I treated each equally, digging a bigger hole (12"x12"x12") put gravel and compost and fertiziler at the bottom and then i added bricks all around the bines when they first showed up (it keep humidity and prevents accidental weed whipping when young.) So - I would suggest getting hops from someone local if you can. the two varietes that produced the most were taken from local rootstock and i think it made a big difference. They're acclimated etc. I had 3 Gallon zip lock freezer bag full. not a huge amount but great for finishing hops. I'm looking forward to this year!

As an FYI - I had some nuggets, horizon had a few and cascades a handful. I hear cascades does great here but it varies year to year.

 

[nootay]

i would also liek to hear more about bug control. what does everyone use? i live in farm country and feel like we have super bugs from all the chemicals used around here.

 

[kingboomer]

Subbed. I'm thinking that the fence is the only place I can grow these lol!


Sorry for digging up an old thread, just wanted to make sure I could find it again!