I've been doing a lot of research and planning and the Google Machine is probably getting sick of me. This is going to be my first year growing hops. I have 2 choices for a planting area. Both are on a slight slope, have a mix of clay/rock and brown soil and near a wooded area. 1 is grass that has been weed and feeded for a couple of years medium sun exposure in a fenced area. The other is mostly weeds with more sun, a little more sloped and exposed to more herbivore critters. Either area i plan to replace the soil with compost and Black Gold probably 2' deep 2' round for each crown. So I have a few questions.
1: Do I need to level the area out? I could bring in top soil and timbers which I'm considering anyway.
2: Which area would be better considering the sun exposure? I prefer the grassed area cause it's closer and would be easier to maintain but it does have a little less sun.
3: Will the hops interfere with other plants or other plants interfere with them. Such as tomatoes, peppers, ect. I think No but the wife wants to know for sure, being that they will be close by.
4: I thinks crowns instead of Rhizomes cause I hear they produce more the first year. Correct?
Any suggestions, links or info are most appreciated.
1: Do I need to level the area out? I could bring in top soil and timbers which I'm considering anyway.
2: Which area would be better considering the sun exposure? I prefer the grassed area cause it's closer and would be easier to maintain but it does have a little less sun.
3: Will the hops interfere with other plants or other plants interfere with them. Such as tomatoes, peppers, ect. I think No but the wife wants to know for sure, being that they will be close by.
4: I thinks crowns instead of Rhizomes cause I hear they produce more the first year. Correct?
Any suggestions, links or info are most appreciated.