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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: DavidW on April 05, 2005, 20:05:04

Title: Growing Hops
Post by: DavidW on April 05, 2005, 20:05:04
Last year I grew my hops up bamboo canes, this year I would like to grow these hops even higher, would nylon string be ok for them to grow up (14foot high is my target)

Thanks
David
Title: Re: Growing Hops
Post by: Derekthefox on April 05, 2005, 22:16:36
How strong is your string. Hops will grow anywhere I believe, from my neighbour's efforts.
Title: Re: Growing Hops
Post by: Lizard Man on April 17, 2005, 00:03:21
Hops will scramble up anything it seems. I grow them in my garden and use green gardening string. However, the hop plants do so well the string does sometimes break by the end of the season under the weight of the bines. I have also used thin gardening wire, but harvesting is harder. :-\
Title: Re: Growing Hops
Post by: westsussexlottie on April 18, 2005, 10:29:36
Where can you buy hops from to grow? And when do they have to be planted?

Would love to try this.
Title: Re: Growing Hops
Post by: philcooper on April 18, 2005, 10:41:56
http://www.farminabox.com/mall/TheFarminaBox/products/product-826860.stm are offering them at £6 a root.

According to another site they are supplied until the end of April

Phil

Title: Re: Growing Hops
Post by: westsussexlottie on April 18, 2005, 10:45:09
Thanks. I might try these next year. Running out of space this year!

Title: Re: Growing Hops
Post by: Lizard Man on April 18, 2005, 20:33:26
Westsussexlottie,

Beware of certain hop plants - you can pick up ornamental hop plants (Golden Hop) from garden centres, but these won't necessarily give you 'hops'. The hops are the flower of the female hop plant while the male plant produces catkins. The Golden Hop is a lovely plant, with stunning bronzy gold leaves. But it can be disappointing if you are expecting the classic hop flowers. You can take a trip into Kent where the few remaining hop farms normally sell them, and you can be sure of female plants from them (or at least the ones I have bought always been female ones).

Should be able to pick them up March and April.