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Hops.

 
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gardening-girl



Joined: 25 Feb 2009
Posts: 6024
Location: Somerset.
PostPosted: Wed Sep 17, 14 4:33 pm    Post subject: Hops. Reply with quote
    

Has anyone tried growing them?
Would you need to grow masses of them for brewing?
We had some amazing green hop beer at the weekend,just thinking you know

sean
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Wed Sep 17, 14 4:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Treac's grown them in the past. I used some that he gave me to make beer successfully. You don't need loads, a few ounces in forty pints.

Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Wed Sep 17, 14 4:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

They're a weed here. No idea of the variety, but I could probably pick some if you wanted.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Thu Sep 18, 14 8:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

A single plant, grown in full sun in good soil, will produce enough hops for several gallons of beer. The plants are easy to cultivate so you can get extra plants year after year; you're likely to have more trouble controlling the beast as it will send out underground runners.

I would choose a variety you know you like, so if your favorite beer lists the hops used pick one of them. Wild hops are likely to be very variable and not worth using considering the cost of the malt and time to make the beer.

There's plenty of info online about them, but to get good results they will need good supports and you need to think about harvesting. They'll happily grow well over 6m and weight quite heavy. They'll scrabble over trees, fencing etc but then picking the flowers (the best will be near the top) will be a struggle!

Bodger



Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

PostPosted: Thu Sep 18, 14 9:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick wrote:
They're a weed here. No idea of the variety, but I could probably pick some if you wanted.
Yup, there's a lane near here that's full of them. I'm not sure if they're wild hops or if they'd do the job.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45374
Location: yes
PostPosted: Thu Sep 18, 14 10:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

plenty of wild/garden skps round here,for brewing specific types for specific brews seems to be best and you might need several types of hops for some beers.

gardening-girl



Joined: 25 Feb 2009
Posts: 6024
Location: Somerset.
PostPosted: Thu Sep 18, 14 12:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thanks for the info people.
We drank a truly wonderful beer at the weekend,made from green hops.The variety used was Goldings.
We have some space at the plot and thought we could have a go at growing hops for home brewing.

vegplot



Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd
PostPosted: Thu Sep 18, 14 2:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Hops are good for helping sleep. either by drinking beer or in pillows.

madcat



Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 1265
Location: worcester
PostPosted: Thu Sep 18, 14 9:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I quite fancy adding them to my unruly plant collection. Everything else in the garden is mad and intent on world domination

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 14 5:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

They used to grow them in the fields north of here. I remember seeing the poles; about 10' tall still there. The technique then was to put in poles and have wires between them for the hops to run along. Think the whole thing was pulled down for picking. The older method was to put just the poles in and let the hops climb up them.

madcat



Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 1265
Location: worcester
PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 14 5:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick any more details of the wild hops round your way? Are any growing on your place or somewhere where a root could be got without to much trouble. It needs to be female as they're the ones with flowers.

Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 14 5:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

They have the feathery bits that people dry for beer. You want a root? I'm sure I can find one, or twelve. I'm only in Hereford so can drop them to you, or something.

No idea the right time to do this, except that now, I can see them. Out of leave or flower I wouldn't know what to look for.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 14 5:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You can move whole plants. I tend to propagate plants in spring by pulling off a new low shoot and popping it into some water or soil to root.

If you're not growing them for the hops it's worth knowing the shoots can be eaten, a bit like asparagus (vaguely IMHO, but ok, and at least not from Peru or a supermarket).

madcat



Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 1265
Location: worcester
PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 14 11:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Cheers Nick, I wouldn't know where to start looking without the foliage.

Are you passing through Worcester a lot , we are not far from St George's square.

I'd like a couple of roots if it isn't going to be too much of a myther.

We have loads of vines if you want to help yourself to cuttings, they take a while to get going and then go for it big style. They are wine varieties I think given by Italian friends and possibly the originals might have come from Italy ages ago.

The birds eat most of them but isn't that always the way.

Back to hops I'm thinking hop pillows and vine garlands. They're apparently related to Cannabis.

Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 14 2:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Any suggestions of a good time of year to pull shoots for propagation? The leaves and flowers are just hinting at brown here.

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