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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: 1066 on March 06, 2009, 14:43:47

Title: Hops
Post by: 1066 on March 06, 2009, 14:43:47

Hi I fancy getting a hop plant for my lotty, I want to create a sitting area with a bit of shade and thought a hop plant would do the job nicely. Can anyone recommend a variety? I don't want them for brewing, just looking at, the shade then of course the mulching  :)
I have looked at this website and they seem pretty good - http://www.hopshop.co.uk/index.asp
Any ideas?
thanks 1066

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: saddad on March 06, 2009, 14:48:18

The golden ones are very decorative... and the new shoots are edible...  ;D

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: pippy on March 06, 2009, 14:56:02

I thought about it, but don't have the right spot for a hop yet.  Also not sure if I am too far north.  I did find this site though, if you wanted a comparison - they seem a bit cheaper!

http://www.essentiallyhops.co.uk/acatalog/index.html

Please let us know how you get on if you get some :) :)

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: saddad on March 06, 2009, 14:58:06

They grow fine in Derby Pippy... so you'll be fine  :)

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: 1066 on March 06, 2009, 15:06:28

Thanks for the link Pippy, I'll definitely let you know what I chose and how it all goes. Just need to decide on which one. Golden ones do sound good, I also see there are some dwarf varieties as well, which might be a bit more manageable?

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: Weed-Digga on March 06, 2009, 15:17:32

1066 Have PM'd you

Weed-Digga

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: manicscousers on March 06, 2009, 16:12:51

I was thinking of one for over my trellis but I'm a bit put off by the price tag  ;D

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: tonybloke on March 06, 2009, 16:18:32

they grow as weeds around here! p.m. me, I'll dig up a bit for you! ;)

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: pippy on March 16, 2009, 11:37:29

Weed Digga - many thanks for the seeds!   :D  Have put a few in a pot in my outside grow house and the rest in the fridge along with my Echinacea for a few weeks time.  Will let you know how they get on.

 ;) :)

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: zigzig on March 17, 2009, 04:34:18

There could be a health and safety issue here.

You see the guy who does the programme on TV about 'alternative' medicine puts dried hops in a pillow for people who can not sleep.

Seems that they give off something and work well, he gave a few of these pillows out and the insomniacs who tested them were well impressed.

Now this idea that you are going to put a hop vine on your lottie around the seating area worries me.

You could end up sitting there and nod off.

Chairs are not comfortable things to sleep in and you could well end up with a sore neck, fall off the chair so there is a danger.

In view of this, perhaps you might consider installing one of those sun loungers with a mattress on the sitting area where you could have a kip quite comfortably.

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: saddad on March 17, 2009, 07:54:19

OH under the vine...
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e190/Plot52/alonpew1.jpg)

I think the by-product might have had more effect... ::)

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: shirlton on March 17, 2009, 07:57:08

Iwas speaking to our chairwoman the other day about the different open days that we have started to have. I told her about the lavender and hop pillows that I was thinking of making for meself and some for the show. As it happens she has a hop in her garden and I have the lavender. She's gonna either give me a bit of the root if possible otherwise it will have to be the heads for me to dry. If I dont post anything around hop pickin time send out a search party for me. I will probably be asleep somewhere amongst the hops.

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: Macca on March 17, 2009, 16:35:46

Tonybloke
any chance you could send me some, i've just pm'd you.
i'm sure it would make a great addition to my homebrew
thanks

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: Eristic on March 17, 2009, 22:56:52

Quote

Now this idea that you are going to put a hop vine on your lottie around the seating area worries me.

You could end up sitting there and nod off.

I've been doing something wrong. I've got the chair and I fall asleep but I keep forgetting to plant a hop bine.  :P

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: 1066 on March 18, 2009, 14:06:14

And I'm just tempted to get the sun lounger and leave the hops alone ;D

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: PurpleHeather on March 19, 2009, 08:05:53

Buy the sun lounger and enjoy the hops where they belong. In the beer.

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: 1066 on March 19, 2009, 13:50:09

Purple Heather  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: pippy on April 22, 2009, 19:57:39

Well - the seeds have germinated!  Just a couple of years until a harvest I guess?!  Then the battle to control,it will begin! ;D

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: 1066 on April 23, 2009, 06:46:21

I was meaning to ask how people were getting on as mine haven't germinated (and looking at the pot I don't think they will), so will try a 2nd batch in the next few days
1066

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: artichoke on April 23, 2009, 06:47:23

Hops come as male and female plants, and only the females have the "cones" used for beer. You'll have to grow on quite a few seedlings to the flowering stage to be sure of having a female.

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: 1066 on May 26, 2009, 17:04:38

WeedDigga
Many thanks for the seeds, on the 2nd attempt 3 have germinated  ;D

1066

Title: Re: Hops
Post by: cornykev on May 26, 2009, 17:44:36

Shirl did you ever get around to making them hop pillows.  ;D ;D ;D