Least vigorous hops

[cavman22]

Hello,

Does anyone have any input on which type would be the least vigorous? I've got cascades and chinooks and they've taken over one side of my house. I was hoping to find a variaty that I could grow and brew with, yet be able to manage on some smaller trellis'.

Any input?

Thanks all!

 

[Yooper]

They all tend to be pretty invasive. I'm not sure about the "ornamental" varieties although you wouldn't likely use them for brewing.

 

[cavman22]

Oh bummer. I was hoping some would grow slower. My father in law has goldings and they seem to be slower and more finicky

 

[brewcat]

Some of the noble hops aren't as vigourous. Saaz, Goldings, Hallertauer.

Golding is a pretty good choice for a short trellis.

 

[Robx]

Just grow in a container (Half whiskey barrel raised up on bricks), large terracotta pots, big plastic planters, fabric pots - whatever. The hops will be limited by the size of the planter and the amount of water it can regularly absorb.

If the same volume of planter is used, the size of the hop plant from biggest to smallest - and also more water / more often water to least will be:

Fabric Pot / smartpot > Terracotta pot > well drained whiskey barrel > plastic planter

If you want to plant it in the ground, you can also use a sunken planter / bed + weed guard (to prevent the rhizomes from spreading).

 

[cavman22]

Thanks for the replays. I've got some thinking to do

 

[TeeJo]

There ARE a couple varieties out there, bred to grow on short trellis systems, like, 9 feet short. Do some searching for Dwarf hops and you should find what you need.

TeeJo

 

[Yooper]

Some of the noble hops aren't as vigourous. Saaz, Goldings, Hallertauer.

Golding is a pretty good choice for a short trellis.

I think it depends where you are. I don't grow Saaz, but my goldings and hallertauer are unstoppable. The hallertauers are taking over the yard and garden, going up a telephone pole, climbing over the garden fence, popping up many feet away from the area where they were planted. I live above the 46th parallel.

 

[brewchachojoe]

You're on the right track with European varieties: they are typically not as voracious as Anerican varieties. In fact many commercial English hop farms utilize a low trellis system that more resembles a vineyard than a traditional hop yard. Goldings and Fuggles would be a great choice, just bear in mind that European varieties require a bit more tending. You'll need to amend your soil with bone meal if you want to realize a yield from English varieties. Also on the subject of yield, you likely won't harvest as much weight from these varieties as you would American hops.

Good luck and happy growing!

 

[brewcat]

I think it depends where you are. I don't grow Saaz, but my goldings and hallertauer are unstoppable. The hallertauers are taking over the yard and garden, going up a telephone pole, climbing over the garden fence, popping up many feet away from the area where they were planted. I live above the 46th parallel.

I was thinking in terms of upwards growth. Hops certainly will spread if you let them. Cutting rhizomes from the crown every year or two keeps them in check.