Welcome to our Series of Growing Backyard Hops. If you missed part you of the series: Plants or Rhizomes, you can find it here.
In Part 1 of this series of Growing Backyard Hops, we covered choosing the variety and rhizomes vs plants. (you can find that post here: Backyard Hops: Part I Plants or Rhizomes) This post will cover what to do next - planting.
Hops are a very satisfying plant to grow. They are a vigorous perennial plant that, once established, grow like crazy year after year. Their biggest downfall is the tough love they require with pruning. But we are talking about planting – that is next year's problem.
Planting and Cultivation
Preparation of the Planting Site
Hops have relatively simple requirements and can thrive in various locations. In Calgary, they can be found climbing fences with minimal care, while in Europe, they adorn barns, buildings, and power poles. To flourish, hops need tons of sunlight, well-drained soil, and support for climbing. Well begun is half done, as they say. Let’s start with picking the right location.
- Sun: Hops thrive in full sun, ideally receiving six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Drainage: Opt for well-drained soil to prevent waterlogging, as hops dislike soggy conditions, “they don’t like wet feet”.
- Soil: Aim for a pH of 6-8 and enrich the soil with organic matter before planting to satisfy hops' nutrient demands, particularly nitrogen.
Once the location is chosen, consider the following:
- Water: Hops are thirsty plants, growing rapidly will do that to anything. Deep watering is preferred to reach their extensive root system, but avoid wetting the leaves to prevent mold and mildew. Drip irrigation is ideal, but a hose can suffice if used judiciously.
- Trellis: Hops require vertical support for growth. Hops are bines, not vines, which means their stem wraps around support in a clockwise motion. Give them lots of space, hops can reach up to 18 feet tall and will continue to grow even if they are taller than the support offered. In commercial hop yards coconut husk coir is used, however any strong sisal twine will work as well.
Growing hops at home can be a jungle adventure in your backyard! Sure, these bad boys might try to take over, but the payoff is totally worth it. Quickly climbing to create shade or dynamic levels to your garden, they are sure to please any gardener. Just remember to give them tough love. We apologize right now for the rabbit hole this may open - we started with 3 plants in our backyard… Keep an eye out for more tips and tricks in our next blog posts. Let's grow our hop paradise together and cheers to homegrown hops!