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Growing Techniques

                                        Hops prefer full sun and rich soil, well drained with a pH of 6.5-8.0.  If there is a problem with drainage, small mounds can be built up using surrounding top soil mixed with organic matter.  The hole can be dug about one foot deep so that some compost and or other slow release fertilizer can be mixed in with the soil and used to fill back in.  Rhizomes should be planted with the bud pointing upward or horizontally about 1 inch below the soil surface.  Vines are ready to be trained when they are about 12 inches long and must be gently wrapped clockwise onto the twine without kinking or damaging the plant.  Only 2-3 vines should be trained onto each string with two strings per plant.
 
                                               The space between plants will vary depending on the variety, but for the most part you would want to plant mixed varieties at least 5 feet apart, and identical varieties can be as close as 3 feet.  The main concern is just to get the vines off the ground, and trying to keep different varieties from getting tangled up.  The vines are easiest to grow and deal with if they are trained onto strong twine.  This twine can be supported by a trellis wire, pole, tree branch, or building.  Smaller diameter poles, lattice and chain link fence also work but require more hand labor.  Pretty much anything over 6 feet will work.  Hops will mainly grow upward if they can while having lateral side arms extend off the main vine.  Once trained, the vine will take care of itself unless you want it to grow horizontally, this will have to be done manually.

                                                Around July you can remove the the lowest 4 feet of foliage and lateral branches to aid in circulation and reduce disease development.  The removing of the lower leaves must be done carefully to avoid breaking or damaging the main stem.  Around August you should allow additional bottom growth to remain to promote hardiness of the crown.  At the end of the season you can bury healthy bottom vines for propagating new plants the next spring.  Bury them in shallow trench and mark their location.  In the spring dig them up and cut into pieces 4 inches long.  You will want to make sure each new cutting has an eye or bud.

                                                   Do not expect very much growth or flowers the first year because the hop is basically establishing it's root system.  Full growth and maximum yield of flowers will usually be achieved during the second year.

Home Page

History

Hop Descriptions

Common Pests

Cultivating/Harvesting

Hops and Homebrew