Hop Growing 2013

[Belter]

My Prima Donna grows pretty well on a north-facing wall and seems to fascinate the neighbours.

Would that be some fancy continental variety, possibly French

First gold?

[orlando]

My Prima Donna grows pretty well on a north-facing wall and seems to fascinate the neighbours.

Would that be some fancy continental variety, possibly French

First gold?

Only kidding, more likely Italian.

[jmc]

When is it best to plant new hop rhizomes?

Will frost kill a newly planted hop?

TIA John

Have a look here http://www.essentiallyhops.co.uk/acatal ... lants.html

Thanks for the info.

I ordered a Cobb (Golding) and Progress from Willingham Nurseries
I realise I wont get much from these new 2 this year, but I'm hopeful of a good crop from my Cascade (3rd year) & Challenger (year 2) & First Gold (year 2).

No sign of life yet but they are planted outside.

[barneey]

Yep I bought my plants late last year and whilst they grew they really didnt do much, I `ve now found the sunniest place I can find so year two should be better.

Cheers

C

[gnutz2]

My EKG is showing about 4 small shoots

This is it's third year now so i'm hoping for a massive crop, last year made some great beer.

[Belter]

I'm yet to read any hop growing manual and have only read title bits hear and there but from your guys experience when do I start to train the two/three shoots I want to focus on and how strong does the support need to be for the first year? I dont envisage an 8ft hop plant appearing in the first year.

Cheers

[boingy]

Yeah, you won't get an 8 footer first year. More like 15 footer, unless it's a dwarf variety...

Can't believe you guys have shoots already. I'm not uncovering mine for at least another month.

[gnutz2]

I'm not uncovering mine for at least another month.

You mean your supposed to cover them up ?

Mines been exposed all winter.

[boingy]

Mine are under 6 inches of lovely crumbly compost. I'll gently spread it out when the weather warms up a bit.

[Hogarth]

I've got three rhizomes waiting in a plastic bag. Every time I go to plant them it starts snowing. Can't decide if they'll do better if I plant them anyway, or keep them damp and cold in their bag until the frosts have finally gone.

[Belter]

The fact sheet I got with my rhizome
said plant them then (I think December) or keep them in the fridge inside a damp piece of newspaper until after the last frost

[jmc]

I've got three rhizomes waiting in a plastic bag. Every time I go to plant them it starts snowing. Can't decide if they'll do better if I plant them anyway, or keep them damp and cold in their bag until the frosts have finally gone.

Just what I'm thinking. Also worried my 2 will rot if I leave then in wet newspaper in cold garage.

The fact sheet I got with my rhizome
said plant them then (I think December) or keep them in the fridge inside a damp piece of newspaper until after the last frost

Thanks that's useful, but we can get frosts quite late i.e into April and possibly early May.

Do you think it would be OK to plant once this cold-snap finished, in compost-rich soil so that tops about 4" under soil level, and then add some compost on top to insulate?

[Belter]

No idea. Sorry mate. Contact Willingham nurseries. They'll tell you

[scuppeteer]

Do you think it would be OK to plant once this cold-snap finished, in compost-rich soil so that tops about 4" under soil level, and then add some compost on top to insulate?

They are more likely to rot if you bury them, the tips need to be above ground for maximum sunlight so they can get growing. You would also do well to put bit of hay/straw over them till it warms up a bit. Frost is unlikely to kill them, only slow the growth. Pick the sunniest spot in the garden to plant.

[Belter]

I was told to bury mine by Willingham. Under about 4inches if soil. This is for Rhizomes mind are you thinking about plants?