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You are here: Home --> Forum Home --> General Forum --> Homebrewing Links --> The IB guide to growing hops at home

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uberg33k
Charter Member
The Internet
314 Posts


My guide on helping you grow hops at home is up!  Check it out! 





Posted 34 days ago.
Edited 34 days ago by uberg33k

jimmy_neutrino
Indianapolis, IN
8 Posts


What a great writeup!

This will be my first year growing hops (after a really successful vegetable garden last year), and you've just convinced me to plant my rhizomes in planters instead of my garden boxes.

You mentioned limited to no yield in the first year. Can you expand on that? Will I really not get a single hop? If I get any, will they be usable?




Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


Disclaimer: I have never grown hops, myself. 

I see a lot of reports that the first year is basically a throwaway on rhizomes.  You may get some yield, but not much.  The plant spends that first year becoming an actual plant.



Posted 34 days ago.

vinpaysdoc
Charter Member
High Point, NC
321 Posts


Err, those bottles of Wet Hopped Pale you had......first year......the rhizomes I got must have been pretty good because all 3 mounds took off and produced.



Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


That's right!  I don't know why I was thinking you had crowns. 

See, it pays to read the disclaimer.  If somebody says they don't know what they are talking about, they are probably right.





Posted 34 days ago.

uberg33k
Charter Member
The Internet
314 Posts


It really depends on the variety, but you should expect the first year that the plant is going to spend more time and effort in establishing itself and building up the root ball than pushing out nutrients to the bines.  It doesn't mean you won't get any hops, it just means you probably won't get enough for a full batch of anything.  You might get a pound, you might get a handful, or you might get nothing.  It all depends on the vitality of the plant, the variety, and your climate.

I think it's really important to throw this disclaimer out there to set expectations.  You don't want people getting bummed their first year if they only see 6' of growth and no cones.  Keep at it!  If after 2-3 years you aren't seeing usable yields, you really need to evaluate your nutrition regimen and if that variety is really worth perusing.   Like I said in the blog, I've found that Tett and Hallertau grew, they just never really grew well, so I cut my losses and moved onto another variety. 




Posted 34 days ago.

vinpaysdoc
Charter Member
High Point, NC
321 Posts


Fantastic job. Great article that will encourage more folks to grow hops.



Posted 34 days ago.

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