For awhile this season, I’ve been toying with the idea of growing hops in my yard. I got the idea from a guy I met a couple years ago at a friend’s Christmas party. He brought in a sample of his home brew and I was impressed. Not only in the taste, but especially in finding that he grew his own hops.
I’m not a brewer myself… Haven’t in 30+ years. I’m a consumer of the end product you might say. I’m from the fraternity of “Kegger, Tapper, Brew”. I was never able to match, not even close, my attempts in brewing to my taste buds. For me, it just easier to purchase my beer. I figured that way I could try a broader range beers given very little effort on my part. In any event, I have always admired those individuals that can home brew beer. For me, to grow these plants was an opportunity to grow something new and exciting. I’m willing to try growing anything once and maybe twice.
Well, back to the hops…
In bouncing this idea off my nieces fiancé, who I also admire for his brewing capabilities (read: I really like his beer). Came up with the idea that I would grow them for him, in exchange for a supply of this end product.
In doing the research, I found that there is really no down-side in growing these magnificent plants. The plants, as they grow upwards add color and depth to any landscape. The aroma given off from the blooms is soothing and down-right will cause drowsiness…honest… people even make sleeping pillows to the insomniac in us. My only contention is where to grow them in my urban environment given their height requirements. I am also still unsure of my neighbors feeling toward my existing garden. I got praises from 2 of 4 neighbors so far (I feel they think I’m crazy anyhow).
The height requirements is literally (almost) sky’s the limit with these plants. The longer they grow vertically, the more buds will be produced. Personally, the bigger (taller) the better.
Now that I picked at that scab, I made the plunge and purchased two well established plants at a farmers market attended this past weekend. I purchased a Cascade and Nugget. Cascade’s came up a lot in my reading, so I knew it by name only. The Nugget was suggested by the farmer. He was not much greener than I was. He was clueless as to what hops were better than others. This was his first time growing them and only grew those that would grow in zone 5. It set be back $25 for the two. I don’t know if I overpaid and honestly, this was the first time I have seen them for sale.
Now, I have to decide how I’m going to trellis them and where… Come back soon for my updates.
Leave a Reply