[IBU] Hop Rhizomes

[Matt Melcher]

For those that took some rhizomes at last night's meeting I thought I would
provide you with a few simple instructions. I think you'll find they are
easy plants to grow and they don't need a lot of fussing or care. It takes a
couple of years before you get a lot of cones, although yopu may get some
the first year. I usually get at least a 5 gallon bucket full from each
plant, depending on how good I am at keeping up with harvesting them. Some
years I get even more.

Plant the rhizomes horizontaly a few inches deep. Water them very well.
After they send up some shoots mulch around them.

Light - Probably the most important thing to consider if your goal is
maximum hop production. Get them as much sunlight as possible. Southern or
western exposure is best. The more sunlight the better.

Trellis - These things grow...up. They need something to climb on. You may
have seen pictures of hop fields with plants climbing up wires to over 20
feet and more. You don't need to do that at home. Give them something to
climb up. A string, a deck, some lattice, a chain link fence. You've got a
lot of options.

Water - Like most plants they need about an inch of water a week. You don't
want the rhizome to be sitting in soaked ground all the time. Mulching
around the plant will help a lot.

Fertilizer - Use whatever you like, but not as much as you think you need.
Only a couple of times a season.

Pests - I've never really had any problems. The occasional aphid or spider
mite but that's really it. I've never used anything to combat them because I
have other things in the yard the bugs like much more.

Diseases - Again, I've had no problems.

That should get you started. If you are a gardener you should have no
problems growing these things. If you're new to growing things you have an
easy plant to start with. Search the internets and other brewing websites
and you will find plenty of information. If you want to see some pictures of
where your rhizomes came from go to:
http://gardener-matt.blogspot.com/

I've still got some rhizomes (Fuggle and Kent Goldings) if you are
interested.

-- 
"You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you"
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