Two years in the ground, and my hop bines are finally starting to show some production.
At the beginning of the growing season, I transferred my three bines to a sunnier location in the backyard beneath an existing clothesline pole that I planned to use as the backbone of my trellis system. I trained the bines to grow vertically, using some metal garden stakes and strong twine to create a simple support structure tied to the top of the seven foot pole. From the pole, I then ran a series of thick pieces of clothesline to my garage, providing about 25 feet of additional runway for the bines to grow horizontally.
The idea seemed to work well, as the longest of the Cascade plant’s two stalky trunks has grown to about 18 feet so far this year. Small hop flowers are beginning to emerge from the winding runners, with a few legitimate cones taking shape. It’s a pretty cool feeling knowing that I’ll be able to harvest these guys and use in one of my own beers before the end of the year, perhaps in a fresh “wet hop” style pale ale.
Unfortunately, the Fuggle and Horizon bines haven’t fared as well, only reaching five or six feet with no flower production, which is in line with their growth last year. In fact, the Fuggle bine looks like it is nearly dead, with most of its yellowed leaves withered away to the point where it now more closely resembles Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree.
I haven’t done a ton of research into it, but I suspect these species may be more temperamental than Cascade, as I really didn’t do much in the way of fertilizing (thus the yellowed leaves, likely an iron deficiency), and I watered only occasionally when Mother Nature hadn’t provided recent moisture. Anyone else growing these hops with any luck?
Some pictures from the weekend:
August 16, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Two of us growing up in Brainerd have had great luck with Fuggles. In fact, its my healthiest looking variety with cascade taking a close second. Are you getting enough water and nitrogen to it? Compost or other fertilizer?
August 17, 2010 at 7:21 am
Haven’t fertilized beyond an initial shot of Miracle Gro, and I water once or twice a week, depending on how much it’s been raining. Probably not enough on either front. What’s been your watering/fertilizing schedule?
September 9, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Harvested? I pulled down a vine last weekend and I’m undecided on how to use them.
September 9, 2010 at 1:30 pm
I was going to do it this weekend, I have a pretty decent number of cones that appear to be ready. Plenty of smaller ones still growing too, so hopefully I get a decent harvest. I wasn’t sure how to use them either, maybe I’ll do a pale ale and dry hop.