Turn beer-making into your favorite hobby with this easy-to-grow vine.
Hops are an indispensable ingredient of beer.
It grows very tall in a single season andrequires a sturdy trellis.
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Hops are dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female plants.
Only all-female varieties are grown for brewing beer (no pollen is necessary, since seeds are undesirable).
The cones can be used fresh (for wet-hopped beer) but are most commonly dried for later use.
Where to Plant Hops
Hops love lots of sunlight, but will tolerate a bit of shade.
They need a good bit of space, good air circulation, and something sturdy to climb.
While hops are adaptable to different soils, they grow best inwell-drained, fertile soilwith a pH of 6.0-7.0.
Since they are thirsty plants, locate them within reach of a water spigot.
Nearly all commercial hops in this country are grown in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
They thrive in the long summer days with short nights, and relatively low humidity these areas offer.
They can also be purchased as certified disease-free seedlings, propagated by tissue culture.
Remove weeds from the planting areaand keep the area weed free throughout the growing season.
Prepare the soil by working compost into the soil to a depth of at least 10 inches.
Hops are usually planted in hills, with one to two rhizomes per hill.
Space hills of the same variety no closer than 3 feet apart to allow good air circulation between plants.
If growing more than one variety, be sure hills are separated by at least 10 feet.
Dig a 6-inch trench into the prepared hill and set the rhizomes horizontally with any visible shoots pointing upwards.
Cover the rhizome with soil and a3-inch layer of organic mulch.
Sturdy coir or sissle lines run from the ground to the cable.
A tent peg is helpful for securing the coir to the soil near the rhizome.
To provide a screen for a porch or gazebo, run lines from each hill to the roofline.
Light
Hops dobest in full sun.
When grown against a solid structure, they should be planted on the south side to maximize exposure.
While they can handle some shade, they will not produce as heavily.
Soil and Water
Hops grow best in sandy loam soil but are adaptable to other soil types.
Workingorganic matter into heavy soilwill improve growth.
A cup of a balanced fertilizer per hill is usually sufficient for each feeding.
Don’t let the fertilizer touch the plant stems.
For organic hops, anaddition of blood mealis helpful for supplying nitrogen.
Compost can be added at any time, and is helpful in supplying micronutrients.
Pests and Problems
The most problematic diseases of hops are downy andpowdery mildews.
How to Propagate Hops
Hops are easy topropagate by taking cuttingsof their rhizomes in early spring.
These rhizomes should be planted immediately, either in the ground or in pots for transplanting later.
Centennial
A dual-purpose hop with a lemony-floral flavor.
It is recommended for American pale ale, stout, blonde ale, and wheat ale.
Its used in IPA, porter, stout, and American ale.
Nugget
Another dual-purpose variety.
It has a resinous-spicy flavor and is used primarily in IPAs.
Willamett
This is an aroma hop with fruity and herbal overtones.
Its a good choice for porter, stout, and brown ale.
Be sure to keep it well-watered.
The harvest season is from mid-August through September, depending on variety and your location.
