Thinking about brewing your own beer? One of the first steps is learning how to grow hops. This can be done right in your own backyard, and below you’ll find simple information to help you get started.
Home brewing has a long history and is believed to date back to early civilizations. In the past, fermented drinks were often used as a safer alternative to water and became part of daily life in many cultures.
Growing your own hops can be a rewarding way to take part in the brewing process from start to finish.
Hops belong to the Cannabinaceae family. This is a vine plant which produces shoots called “bines.” These plants grow from underground and can grow approximately 10 inches a day. Seeing that it is a vine plant, you will need a trellis system to support it. The female flowers are surrounded by a cone, known as a “hop.”
Inside the cones, you will find golden grains, and these grains form a sticky yellow powder, which is called lupulin. It is this powder that has alpha acids and many oils that provide the aroma and flavoring used in brewing beer. Although hops are the first thing that comes to mind when brewing beer, there are other crops that you can raise at home that can be used: fruits, flavorful herbs, and grains.
Hops – When To Plant?
- Now this is going to depend on where you live.
- You start right after the last hard frost. And you will need approximately 120 days (four months) without any. This will allow the plants to flower and give you a good crop.
- If this is the first year you are planting, the plants will be producing a good root system. So only a few flowers will be seen. It is in the second year that you will see much better results.
- Types of hops: Willamette – vigorous, yield small to medium-size cones, aromatic with fruity notes.
- Nugget – pale greenish-yellow flowers, late summer. Winter hardy zone 2. Strong aroma with herbal notes.
- Centennial – Classic hop with citrus tones, clean floral taste. Often used in pale ales and IPAs. Medium-size green cones, and can be harvested in August.
- Cascade – Does well in hot Southern regions. Fast-growing, medium-sized green cones. Unique floral, spicy, and citrus characters.
What Will You Need?
- Strong Trellis system. These plants, called “bines,” can grow over 25 feet. The technical term for “hops” is “vines”.
- Soil – loose, well aerated by being turned over several times. Well-drained as bines don’t like their feet in wet soil all the time.
- Aged manure or compost soil before planting.
Now What?
- In the home garden, best planted in hills. Spaced about 3 feet apart. In larger operations, they are planted in rows and allowed to grow up wires.
- Plant two per hill, with buds pointing up and the roots pointing down.
- Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the pot the plant came in.
- Put the plant in the hole, but remember not to go any deeper than it was in the pot.
- Water well, and mulch with straw or light mulch to control weeds.
In the first year, the plants may need light watering to help the roots get established. If you have mature plants, they may require light watering if the rainfall is light. These will need plenty of water, but remember that they don’t like their feet in really wet soil. That is why well-draining soil is required.
This is when you should be focusing on getting the plants well-established. After this, you can select 2-6 bines from each hill and start training them up the support. Any unused plants can be pruned off. Or can also be used to help start new plants.
Bines can be wrapped around twine, wire that has been either staked in the ground, the side of a building, fence, or other support. Remember that bines naturally grow clockwise, so wrap them in that direction. You can also support lateral branches and prevent tangling.
Pests/Diseases
At the end of the season, you can bury healthy bottom bines for next year’s crop. Do this in a shallow trench and be sure to mark their location. Springtime dig them up and cut into pieces 4 inches long, and make sure you have an eye or bud. Then plant in hills.
When Do We Harvest?
This is done in late summer or at the end of the growing season. Test the cones by squeezing them to see if they have already started to dry out. Can let the cones dry on the vine or cut them down, lay on the ground before pulling off the cones. You can then finish drying the cones in the sun on screens or in a well-ventilated room.
For the freshest flavor, store the cones in an airtight container or vacuum-seal them in bags, then put in the freezer or refrigerator until ready to use them.
If you enjoy learning about food and beverages, you can also explore more ideas in our Cooking, Food and Wine section.
If you have questions or would like more information about anything you see here, please feel free to contact us. We’re always happy to connect.