{"id":2306,"date":"2019-08-28T19:28:31","date_gmt":"2019-08-28T19:28:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brewtogether.com\/?p=2306"},"modified":"2022-08-29T14:10:48","modified_gmt":"2022-08-29T19:10:48","slug":"homegrown-hops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brewtogether.com\/2019\/08\/28\/homegrown-hops\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Acquire, Grow, and Harvest Your Own Homegrown Hops"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Using your own homegrown hops is an incredibly rewarding process that adds another level of pride and self-sufficiency to your homebrew. Hops are very easy to grow and produce an attractive, fast-growing plant. During their peak growing season, the vines (called “bines”) can grow over a foot per day in all directions searching for something to climb. They\u2019re excellent climbers and will take over any lattice, pergola, or other climbable surface. Growing hops requires very little equipment and costs almost nothing. If you\u2019re not sure what type of hops you would want to grow, check out our article describing the flavors and aromas of the most common hop varietals.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acquiring Hop Rhizomes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While hops can technically be grown from seed or bine cuttings<\/a>, the easiest and most common way to get started growing hops is with a rhizome cutting. A rhizome is \u201ca continuously growing horizontal underground stem which puts out lateral shoots and adventitious roots at intervals.\u201d Essentially, the rhizome is the portion of the hop plant that survives year after year while the visible portion of the plant (the bines, leaves, and flowers) grow and die back every year. Mature hop plants can have portions of the rhizome cut off and the removed portion can be planted separately to create a new hop plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hop rhizomes are fairly easy to acquire. They\u2019re available at many local homebrew shops (LHBS), online homebrewing retailers<\/a>, and even on Amazon<\/a>. Before you buy them, though, see if you know anyone who has mature hop plants. My homegrown Cascade came from cuttings from a friend\u2019s Cascade crop. See the Propagation section of this article for information on harvesting rhizomes. Your friends may be happy to trade you some rhizomes for a beer or two!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing Area Preparation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hops grow best in moist, neutral soil and require at least 6-8 hours of sun per day. Ensure your growing area is easy to water and gets plenty of sun. Because hops grow on a climbing vine, the only other requirement is something for them to climb. Hops do very well climbing fences, trellis, or pergolas. While hops can grow over 25 feet, most growers find that between 10 and 18 feet is the perfect length. I personally have mine grow up a lattice trellis next to my Muscadine grapes and blackberries, but many homebrewers attach strong lengths of twine<\/a> up one side of their house and allow the hops to climb. Ensure that whatever you choose for them to climb is quite strong. An 18-20 foot bine can weigh over 20 pounds! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planting Rhizomes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rhizomes <\/a>should be planted in the early spring after the final frost has passed and the soil begins to warm. Once you have acquired your rhizomes, immediately plant the rhizome in 2-4 inches of moist soil. The rhizome should begin to root and send out small shoots within about a week. Once the shoots are a few inches tall you can train them to climb by moving the bines closer to whatever you have designated for them to climb in your growing area each day. Once they begin to climb they will continue to do so on their own. Avoid letting your hops grow on the ground to reduce the chance of mold or disease ruining your crop.  <\/p>\n\n\n

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