We don't have the right climate for it. You'd spend a fortune on watering and we don't get enough late season light. That's why hops trend to congregate around the 40 latitudes. It's not that they can't grow here, it just wouldn't be worth it on a commercial scale. I think the is a wild hop in New Mexico that might grow better than other varieties in Texas.
I use well water which only costs to bring it to the surface then drip irrigation from there plus no chemicals like in tap water. I had good success with cascade, nugget and Chinook this year and can expand. With our springs starting earlier than the north I have an earlier harvest. I know I could not match what is produced in the northern farms but I could provide fresh hops that cost a fortune to bring in, plus they would be local grown. I was just wondering if there would be a market for fresh hops here.
I don't know what kind of well you have but a standard 4" 3hp home type well isn't going to supply enough water for more than a couple acres. I bet Jester King would love to source local hops.
We would have to put something in bigger to accommodate the increased need but our land sits on top of the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer so there is plenty of water available plus we have lake water of needed. I have been talking with growers in northern and southern California which is close in line with me (I'm in north east Texas) and they tell me they average 4 gallons/day per plant. I don't see being able to supply the whole state with hops but maybe a few local micro breweries and home brewers some fresh hops.
Yeah, like @fbt said, Jester King put out a request for locally sourced hops. I would trade them all my hops for beer. Everyone wins.
Out of the traditional hops, Chinook seems to be doing the best for me. James is right, Neo Mexicana varieties do well here. The 3 varieties I have are growing cones at a much higher rate (# / size of plant) than traditional varieties. Willow Creek seems to be doing the best. You might want to refer to this poster on HBT who has great success with them in New Mexico http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showpost.php?p=7670365&postcount=164
I sourced mine from Great Lakes Hops this year. I think they had all 4 varieties at one point. They sell them in crowns which are move expensive but have a higher success rate. Plus they sent me a replacement when one of them didn't take.
