Like to move my hops

[evolute99]

Last year I bought five rhizomes and had a good yield the first year. But I have a problem, We may be moving and I would like my hops to move with me.

Problem #1 I planted all 5 rhizomes in the ground, I thought about digging them up and placing them in planters until I find a permanent spot for them, Is this possible? My fear is that when I dig them up I will kill them, I'm really excited about second year growth but I have to move and want to make them mobile until I find a good home for me and my hops.

thanks

 

[david_42]

Hops are tough. If you expect to be in the new place this spring, just put the roots in plastic bags and keep them cold and in the dark until planting time.

 

[Nurmey]

Dig them up before they start growing in the spring. Hops have a long tap root and a large mass of roots. Dig a VERY large dirt ball around the roots like you would if you were moving a tree. I'm talking a couple feet diameter and as deep as you can. Because they are perennials, they spent their first year putting out roots so this will be a big project. Keep them well watered after you move them but do not fertilize right away as that would stress them.

The good news is that they are kind of like weeds and very hard to kill. Even if you should break some of the roots, they should recover.