Growing hop rhizomes is truly something special. Being able to add an ingredient that you’ve grown yourself is not something that every homebrewer can claim. Plus, you can’t get any fresher then going out in your back yard and picking your own hops. Let’s show you the process of planting and caring for your rhizomes.
What is a “hop rhizome”?
A rhizome is the part of the hop plant that grows beneath the surface. It is the heart of the root system of the vine and stores and transfers food from the root system. A hop rhizome looks like a grape vine or stick, and is used to start new hops plants.
I’ve got my hop rhizomes, now what?
Prepare the Hop Yard. You may already know exactly where your new hops are going to go, if so, look-up and make sure you have 10’-20’ of vertical, or trainable, climb space. If not, find an area that is full of sun, low on wind and has plenty of climbing space. You may also incorporate a trellis system. Select where you are going to plant the rhizome and prepare the soil. Be sure it is loose and porous; compact clay style soil will result in standing water and eventually root rot and plant death will occur. If drainage is a concern build a hop hill with soil and gravel/sand mixed in to make a looser bed. If you can grow vegetables or flowers fairly well in your soil then you should have no problem growing hops. For the precision growers the rhizomes require a soil pH of 5.5-8.0 and a general nutrient regiment where the potassium and phosphorus are roughly double the nitrogen content. The trace mineral boron is also beneficial.
Where should I plant a Rhizome?
You’ll want to survey your growing area and check for a few basic things. First be aware of your vertical surroundings. Do not grow them up electrical poles. Allow more than 10’ of vertical growth to ensure a well spaced vine. Hop vines can grow up to 25 ft. in a single season! Less than 10’ may result in bunched shoots that make them susceptible to mildew. Plant like varieties together and space these 3’ apart. Space out unlike varieties to at least 5’ apart. Crowded vines are less productive and susceptible to infestation and mildew. Also, hops should not be grown inside. Their roots need too much room to spread out, and a container is just not large enough to support the growth. These are not small plants when they grow. A lot of people are not familiar with what hops look like in a field, but most people know what grape vines look like. Hops grow the same way that grape vines grow. They get big, they take up space, and they need a lot of height.
What type of soil is ideal for hop rhizomes?
Rhizomes are not terribly picky. A sandy soil is a bit more ideal for proper drainage, but a mix of sand and clay soil will work just fine. Be sure there is adequate drainage as standing water will rot the roots. The pH of the soil should be between 5.5 and 8.0.
When to Plant
With a properly mulched hop hill, the rhizomes can withstand 20°F freezes. It is better to plant too early than too late, so as soon as you can till the ground, get them in it. If you need to await the spring thaw, store the rhizome in the refrigerator to keep it moist. Some will lightly plant the rhizome in a pot and store it in the root cellar and replant once the soil becomes workable. Ideal planting is February - April. Since we get the rhizomes late in their planting cycle, you should plan to get them into the ground pretty quickly. They should be refrigerated in a water misted ziplock bag until they are ready to go into the ground. You may plant the rhizomes in pots and move them into the ground in June when the ground has warmed. It’s a good idea to till the ground you are planting the rhizome into, to loosen the soil and help clear any weeds.
Plant the Rhizome
Dig a trench 4” deep and roughly the length of the rhizome you are planting. Look for any whitish buds on the rhizome and position them skyward. If no buds are present look for roots and place them groundward. The rhizomes should be planted horizontally, not vertically. Cover and pack by hand with soil.
Give your rhizomes a large first-year boost with Asco Root™ Rhizome Root Growth Enhancer!
Asco Root is a granular slow-release extract of cold water seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum). It greatly helps to aid in root growth and set, stress tolerance, and overall plant health while providing a strong potassium source. It has shown exceptional yield increases in field trials and provides a great head start to help first-year rhizome planting. You will receive a bag to cover the volume needed for 5 rhizomes, and it should be planted in the hole with your rhizomes when planting.
Growing the Hops
Watch for growth and monitor the soil. if it is dry and you aren’t getting much rain, water the hill. You can over do it, so occasional monitoring will help keep the water needs in check. Occasional nutrient feeding can also help increase your yield. You can pre-order Hop Rhizome Fertilizer. We have a few good ones listed on the Rhizome section for sale. In order to reduce crowding, cut back the weaker shoots in favor of the strongest 2-3. Crowded vines promote infestation and shade damage. Be sure to water early in the day so the leaves have a chance to dry out, mildew needs moisture and darkness to form. Also be sure the vines do not get tangled, this promotes crowding.
Do I need to water my hop rhizomes?
It’s a good idea to water frequently but lightly the first year. Be sure there is good drainage (no standing water). Rhizomes prefer a slightly arid condition, so do not over water them. If the ground is dry, then water the plants until the soil does not absorb the water. Hops do not like a lot of water, so don’t go crazy.
Monitor the Hops
Keep an eye on the hops as they grow, aphids and powdery mildew are the most common hazards in the garden. Powdery mildew forms on the underside of the leaves in a white powdery substance. Trim the affected leaves off and completely dispose of them outside your yard (in the trash). There are several natural pest control sprays for aphids- check out our rhizome section for pest control options. Problems that are caught early are easier to correct. Train the growing shoots as well, in the Northern Hemisphere they will grow clockwise vertically, give them something to climb and wrap them around it accordingly.
When to Harvest Hops
Hops are ready to pick when the bracteole (leaves) of the hop cone start to turn papery and brown around the edges. When the hop cone is broken open, the lupulin gland should be yellow and sticky, as seen in the photo. General guidelines for picking are as follows: When just a couple of the hop cones have their bracteole tips just turning brown, pick about a third of the hops. Then, a few days later go back and do the same. Don’t wait until the hops turn brown before you pick them. Use the bracteole tip color as a guide. Make sure the hop cones are ripe before picking a lot of them. Check for the brown leaf tips, the lupulin glands, and even taste a hop yourself to make sure you’ve got a hop flavor. If you harvest too soon, your hops won’t have the potency you would expect and might impart a chlorophyll flavor to your beer.
Can I grow rhizomes indoors?
No, hops should not be grown inside. Their roots need too much room to spread out, and a container is just not large enough to support the growth. These are not small plants when they grow. A lot of people are not familiar with what hops look like in a field, but most people know what grape vines look like. Hops grow the same way that grape vines grow. They get big, they take up space, and they need a lot of height.
A few years back we tried to grow some hops indoors as an experiment. For those that aren’t aware, Midwest Supplies is also an organic and hydroponic gardening retailer. We have many (people on) staff here very good at growing herbs, tomatoes, peppers, etc. indoors. We set everything up and gave it a try. Let’s just say that we ended up with a rotted-out stick by the time we were done. Unfortunately, our customers have had the same luck. We’ve had several brewers try it over the years with the same luck. Hop plants are just not meant to be grown indoors.
It is also not a good idea to try and “start” your hops indoors as well. Due to the timing of when we receive our hops there are several states still dealing with winter at the time. You do not want to plant hops in frozen ground. So, a lot of people ask if they should just get them started inside until the ground is warm enough to plant. Again, no, it doesn’t work. Just leave the rhizome in the fridge until you can plant it outdoors. Spray the rhizome with some water every couple days and that will keep it alive. Remember that rhizomes do not need much water, so just spray enough to get it wet. Hop rhizomes will store in the refrigerator for several months without issues. We’ve taken the oldest, smallest, nastiest looking rhizomes you can imagine and planted them. To our surprise, and our employees’ excitement, they’ve grown
Are there any safety concerns to growing hops?
Keep your pets away from the growing hops - dogs especially. Hops are poisonous to dogs if ingested and veterinary assistance should be sought should this occur.