So I am starting to homebrew, and as things move along I'm looking at using fresh(er) ingredients. My question is has anyone grown their own and how successfull have your growing ventures been? Any specific types that seem to do better or worse in our climate? Soil amendments needed?
Just started growing my own this season and my only suggestion so far is to put them in the sunniest spot you have.
I have a buddy who grows his own as well. Quirkzoo is correct in that they love sunlight. I could ask him for more info if needed. I also believe that hops pose an issue with dogs. I doubt they taste good to a dog, but I've met my fair share of dogs who thought they were goats.
Yes, I have Cascade, Centennial & Columbus, they all do great, just give 'em lots of sun and nutrients. Going strong after 2-years. Actually Cascade is new this year but doing well. I'm 3 for 4, I lost my original Cascade last year only because I transplanted it during it's most fragile stage when it only had 2-3 young shoots coming out of the rhizome. I've potted mine w/ compost & potting mix though in a maybe trivial attempt to keep them from taking over our yard/garden. Hops don't do well in clay, so you may need to amend the soil. To be sure you can always by a $3 pH tester at a hardware/garden center and check, pH of soil should be in 6.0-7.5 range. Oh and once a month or so I use Miracle-Gro water/nutrient mix. Hops are toxic to Golden Retreivers, of which I have a mixed breed of. He hasn't gone after the hops yet (he's not a digger/chewer), but I don't give him much opportunity. When I prune I immediately remove all bines & hops to the trash. Even when I home brew I make sure to clean the kitchen well. I think it's particularly the lupulin, but could be the leaf that's just as poisonous.
sounds awfully close to growing tomatoes actually. I do have dogs, however when the garden goes in, the dog run will also, so (hopefully) never the two shall meet. I'll make sure to amend my soil, I'm looking at raised beds with a trellis on the south facing exposure of my home. My tomatoes grow like gang busters, hope the hops do well also. Thanks for the information.
I like pictures Here's my crops, Columbus on the left (out of control!) & Cascade (1st year), Centennial not pictured.
Very nice. Glad to hear they do so well. How much does your columbus yeild? Enouugh to get you through the next homebrew season?
Not sure, last year was only about a pound but I was pretty picky on which cones I dried to use. This year at least double that I'm hoping. Probably try to use a bunch in a wet hop IPA during harvest.
