Home grown hops are greener

[Padalac]

Hi chivelegs, I'm also gna be in north London this year. Where did you buy your hop rhizomes? Off the web or is there a place you can go and buy 'em?

[Hogarth]

Hi chivelegs, I'm also gna be in north London this year. Where did you buy your hop rhizomes? Off the web or is there a place you can go and buy 'em?

I got mine from Essentially Hops on the web.

North London? You'll never get hops to grow up there.

[chivelegs]

I can get you a couple of rhizomes from mine if you like. They may not produce a full harvest this year though. I'm planning on guerrilla gardening a few as well so if and when, I'll let you know where they're planted!

[seymour]

I'm planning on guerrilla gardening a few as well...

I've strongly considered doing the same thing. Are you thinking of public parks or wooded areas or what? What do you plan on hanging the string from?

[chivelegs]

A lot of public parks here have overgrown corners with stretches of chain link fencing. Hops would be fine on that. I could try a couple in the local wood (bear in mind this is London, not much proper woodland about though I have a spot in mind)

[seymour]

A lot of public parks here have overgrown corners with stretches of chain link fencing. Hops would be fine on that. I could try a couple in the local wood (bear in mind this is London, not much proper woodland about though I have a spot in mind)

I like the way you think! Afterwards, you should take some pictures and start a guerrilla gardening thread, we could all add to it and compete for the most brazen locations.

[scuppeteer]

Nice idea Chivelegs, don't forget they need as much sun as possible and are a bit adverse to growing with too many brambles. Oddest place I saw one growing in town was up the service yard gate of Waitrose in Balham.

Go for it, you can never have too many hops.

[Hogarth]

My front garden would be an ideal space for guerrilla hops. Come and plant as many as you like!

[seymour]

My front garden would be an ideal space for guerrilla hops. Come and plant as many as you like!

Abort mission! It's a trap!

[Padalac]

Cheers chivelegs that sounds like a great idea. Actually I can think of a few places (aside from my garden)..

[chivelegs]

From what I've seen from my garden Hallertau it's time to get rhizome harvesting. Still up for a plant or two?

[scuppeteer]

From what I've seen from my garden Hallertau it's time to get rhizome harvesting. Still up for a plant or two?

Depending on how old your plant is I would be wary of splitting it with a lot of potential frost still about. Also is the root stock is big enough to cope with being cut? I split a Fuggles last year but not until mid April, the plant was over 3 years old and it's root base was well over 6 inches. Just something to think about if you haven't done it before.

[chivelegs]

Fair enough...I'm going with your advice on this, simply because of this thread!

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=53522&p=563272#p563272
I feel you may know one end of a hop from the other, although in London, we usually get 2-3 weeks extra growing time due to the heat island effect so

The Hallertau is the oldest plant, 4 years growing this year and has just went crazy last year, so I think that would be safe.
Incidentally I spent yesterday digging up a rogue MALE hop that somehow snuck in under the radar, Blimey, what a mission!
I spotted it growing last Spring and naturally only figured out the gender (I was too polite to ask earlier) in late Summer
I'm guessing it may have come from a seed from a late addition hop chucked on the compost after a brew, but if that's the case my garden is going to be overrun next year.

[Padalac]

I am up for giving a hand! When is the best time to start then? What hop varieties are ya growing btw

[scuppeteer]

Fair enough...I'm going with your advice on this, simply because of this thread!

Ha ha, you flatter me sir!

Will be heading over there soon to see if they've finished stringing, and to take some beer of course.

If you keep the male under control by only letting a couple of bines grow it won't be a problem. If you don't want it make sure you get it all as they will spread like wildfire.

Or you could start your own breeding program!