LoresonDE
Well-Known Member
Started this crazy idea back in October thanks to this forum that I could grow hops to brew with.
So, back in October I started. Measured the location out, the trellis and tilled in some compost. We have about 2 acres of 60-70' pines that we are thining out to allow hardwoods to grow. So I picked 2 nice straight ones and went at them with the chainsaw. Got three 22' logs, (4.5", 5.5", 7" small end). While fully realizing they will not last like a cedar post or an old telephone pole, they are free and are not covered in carcinogens that could end up in the hops. Plenty are available and we'll just keep an eye on them for replacement. I stripped the bark off all three and let them dry out on the concrete until I would put them in the ground.
February I decided to purchase my hop crowns, ordered them from Great Lakes and got 2 of each Glacier, Saaz, Teetnang and Williamatte. They arrived a week later a little sooner than expected, but since here in NC the ground never really freezes no problem and got them all in the ground.
March was hop trellis building month. Purchased 3/16" aircraft cable(btw, e-rigging.com, if anyone is interested), turnbuckles, some threaded rod and associated washers/nuts. Since I am mechanically inclined I made the rest with a TIG welder, keeping it as cheap as I can. The basic design is 2 poles 22' long sunk 3' in the ground ontop of 6" of gravel and backfilled with gravel. 4 anchors to provide stability, 2' deep concrete, 3/8" re-bar with eye welded on. 3/4" custom made(haha) eye bolts in the top of the poles tie anchors in with turnbuckles for tightening. And finally a 3/16" line run across between the poles. The rest of the trellis is nylon rope hanging from "c" type clips I made and anchored to the ground.
You may be thinking, that is only 2 poles where is the 3rd? Well after digging four 2' deep and two 3.5" deep 12"+ wide holes by hand, we decided to hold off sinking the other one in the ground. The plan is to put that pole in the middle depending on how things go this season if we get too much sagging in the top line. Plants of the same variety are spaced 3' apart and 6' from different varieties, making the line 34' long.
And that leaves us at today, all hops have broken the ground and are slowly growing. I'll update with pictures later on.
So, back in October I started. Measured the location out, the trellis and tilled in some compost. We have about 2 acres of 60-70' pines that we are thining out to allow hardwoods to grow. So I picked 2 nice straight ones and went at them with the chainsaw. Got three 22' logs, (4.5", 5.5", 7" small end). While fully realizing they will not last like a cedar post or an old telephone pole, they are free and are not covered in carcinogens that could end up in the hops. Plenty are available and we'll just keep an eye on them for replacement. I stripped the bark off all three and let them dry out on the concrete until I would put them in the ground.
February I decided to purchase my hop crowns, ordered them from Great Lakes and got 2 of each Glacier, Saaz, Teetnang and Williamatte. They arrived a week later a little sooner than expected, but since here in NC the ground never really freezes no problem and got them all in the ground.
March was hop trellis building month. Purchased 3/16" aircraft cable(btw, e-rigging.com, if anyone is interested), turnbuckles, some threaded rod and associated washers/nuts. Since I am mechanically inclined I made the rest with a TIG welder, keeping it as cheap as I can. The basic design is 2 poles 22' long sunk 3' in the ground ontop of 6" of gravel and backfilled with gravel. 4 anchors to provide stability, 2' deep concrete, 3/8" re-bar with eye welded on. 3/4" custom made(haha) eye bolts in the top of the poles tie anchors in with turnbuckles for tightening. And finally a 3/16" line run across between the poles. The rest of the trellis is nylon rope hanging from "c" type clips I made and anchored to the ground.
You may be thinking, that is only 2 poles where is the 3rd? Well after digging four 2' deep and two 3.5" deep 12"+ wide holes by hand, we decided to hold off sinking the other one in the ground. The plan is to put that pole in the middle depending on how things go this season if we get too much sagging in the top line. Plants of the same variety are spaced 3' apart and 6' from different varieties, making the line 34' long.
And that leaves us at today, all hops have broken the ground and are slowly growing. I'll update with pictures later on.