Growing hops

[Bizier]

I put all mine in last weekend. These babies had better do something.

In sunniest position possible to come as close to a german summer as possible
Tree guards for frost and wind
Mesh cage for rabbits
a quater box trailer of cow crap rotary hoed into the soil for each plant
4L or so organic life fertiliser around mound

A little upset to find that I had paid $25 each for basically a little bit of pruning for 2 varieties - not even struck at all. That is more expensive than saffron. If they don't strike - I am going to go enquire about the refund policy via stern words from my lead-pipe-accounts-payable-representative.

I just tossed out about 2kg's of Chinook rhizomes the other weekend and a plastic back of unclaimed Goldings root stock went into the rubbish bin on last Sunday

TL - you could have chucked them on ebay and bought a new brew setup with the profit.

[Trough Lolly]

By way of update, I had my first shoots appear last weekend. The Goldings is up and running, so too is the Chinook and I saw two small but very promising buds appear at the surface from the Cascade! The Mt Hood and Pride of Ringwood are still presumably snoozing!

Pics of the hopyard to follow....

Cheers,
TL

[drsmurto]

In Canberra? Would have thought the cold would still have them snoozing, mine are still in hibernation.

The last frost in the Adelaide Hills is normally around the grand final. But then mine do have to grow up through several cms of compost and manure!

[Trough Lolly]

Indeed - It's their first year out of the half wine barrels and I suspect they're going ape in the new found freedom of the front garden! Besides, I suspect my Goldings are actual cuttings harvested originally from UK rootstock and our recent spate of mild weather have them tricked that it's early spring in the old dart!!

Regardless, I will cut back hard and let a 2nd generation do the high yield thing.

Cheers,
TL

[Trough Lolly]

I just tossed out about 2kg's of Chinook rhizomes the other weekend and a plastic back of unclaimed Goldings root stock went into the rubbish bin on last Sunday

TL - you could have chucked them on ebay and bought a new brew setup with the profit.

Yeah, I know but I actually gave plenty of cuttings away for nicks with the brewclub members - It's a help each other out kinda thing. Let me know if you have a bad season - I can try to harvest some root stock or cuttings if things go pear shaped for you.

Edit: OMG! I just saw what's for sale on E-Bay re hop rhizomes!! I have about a Grand's worth of Goldings rootstock still in the vegie Crisper - this bloke better turn up on the weekend as planned or it's going on the market to the highest bidder!!

Cheers,
TL

[Trough Lolly]

I finally managed to finish off the stainless steel 6 strand balustrade that I'm training my hops onto. All of the plants have survived their move into position from pots and half wine barrels.

Here's a pic of each starting with the 1yo Mt Hood rhizome that I planted in June...



Here's the relocated 2yo Pride of Ringwood, slowly coming out of hibernation...



This pic is of 7 or so cuttings that I collected after moving a very rootbound 3yo Chinook plant in a half wine barrel - it obviously likes the new found freedom!!



It's not much to look at but I was given a tiny Cascade cutting at beginning of the year, planted it in June and covered it with a PET bottle to survive the Canberra winter/frosts....small but promising growth so far...I can't wait to harvest some cuttings and get a serious quantity of Cascade plants up and running!



Last but certainly not least, a very healthy bunch of about 7 or so 3yo Goldings cuttings also taken from a very rootbound half wine barrel...



The fence is only 2400mm high but should easily support all of these plants and the wisteria and other rubbish, er, I mean plants that my dear wife has grown alongside the hops!! Now if you'll excuse me, I have some post GF celebrating to do!! GO HAWKS!

Cheers,
TL

[pixelboy]

My Chinook has woken up and loves its new spot with sun all day, its shot about 2m up the string i rigged up for it already.

Im getting some bugs chewing the leaves a little.. anything I can put on it to prevent the little bastards taking over?

Also does anyone know if possums like hop cones? If they do what could I do to stop em?

Ive got heaps of the buggers here (possums) and they better not sabotage the hop cones? They already raided the tomatoe plants

[drsmurto]

The leaves being eaten are normally a sign of spider mites. Tiny creatures and hard to spot but under the leaves you may notice very fine webs.

Spray them with a chilli, garlic and soap concoction. Also works for aphids.

Made some up on the weekend for partner to spray her roses which were covered in aphids.

~40 dried red chillies, soaked in hot water (500mL) for an hour or 2. Chucked in blender and puree with a few cloves of garlic. Strain thru the finest strainer (or muslin cloth or a tea towel) and then put into a spray bottle. Top up with water and add several drops of liquid soap (need soap to make it stick to the plants).

Just be careful when you spray it. Dont do it on a windy day.

As for possums, dunno. A shotgun perhaps? They are unlikely to eat the cones so maybe you could put some chicken wire around them until the plants are a decent height.

[pixelboy]

thanks doc.

Ill give it a go

[Trough Lolly]

Further to Docs good advice, I was on the plane coming home this evening, reading the October edition of BYO mag when I discovered an article that suggests you can also spray your used Star San solution on your hop plants, without fear, to take care of any mildew that might form on the plants....a great way to reuse/recycle rather than tip the stuff down the drain.

Cheers,
TL

[pixelboy]

I doubt Iodophor (my sanitiser of choice) would have the same effect? Could kill the plant im guessing.

I had another look today and the bugs havent continued, they only took a tiny amount of one leaf and moved on.

[Trough Lolly]

Good choice of sanitiser - it's my preference too....I don't suppose you'd like to take one for the team and try spraying it on some hops, would you???