Hop growing for 2007

[Andy]

Would First Gold be more suited to back garden, since they are a dwarf variety?

That's what I've got and a mate who lives local has also. They're great for gardens - still grow pretty well, 2m+.

[oblivious]

Would a wooden trellis up against a wall be ok or do you need something more sturdier?

[Andy]

Would a wooden trellis up against a wall be ok or do you need something more sturdier?

That's what my mate has - wooden trellis against his fence and his two plants are about three years old and yield a good crop - enough for 3-4 brews. I let mine weave through a wire mesh fence at the bottom of the garden.

[oblivious]

Thank Andy


I must start planning to get Swimbo on side for next years planting!

[delboy]

hop plants in the ground with a load of compost and manure . i tell you what i would hate to be a gangster, digging deep holes is hard work.

[SteveD]

I just planted out mine. One each of Fuggles and East Kent Goldings. The Fuggles are in the middle of a 30' bare run of 6' south facing fence, the Goldings are against the opposite fence on the north side. I'll let those climb right to the top where they'll get the sun. I dug deep wide holes and filled with a rich compost/soil/sand mixture, and in they went. Covered over with moss to protect against frost.

Sounds spot on. If you've got any fence space free you might consider growing a tayberry/loganberry/blackberry. They freeze well and are good for jam, pies and wine making (or fruit beers).

At the end of the fence where the Goldings are we have raspberry canes, originally self sown from the garden next door years ago. At the other end is a grape vine. On the opposite fence at one end is a shed, and a pear tree at the other end, so the Fuggles will have no shortage of things to climb up.

The shoots of both plants broke ground a few days ago - Under starter's orders, and they're off!......

[UserDeleted]

The shoots of both plants broke ground a few days ago - Under starter's orders, and they're off!......

I've trimmed my initial shoots back this weekend as they were already 3 foot long! I swear that the day before they had only just reached 6 Inches

[Andy]

Yeah, mine have gone bonkers over the last few days

Here's to a good years hop harvest

[mysterio]

Challenger & Fuggles are going strong at the moment but Goldings has yet to break through the ground...

[mysterio]

I have about 5 or 6 strong shoots coming from the Fuggles - are you supposed to prune some of these off and just keep two or thee shoots to train

[UserDeleted]

All the advice I've seen is to prune off the initial shoots, and then select three of the next lot and train those. I've done so in the past and never been really happy. This year I clipped back the initial shoots as usual, but I'm going to double the number of bines this year and allow 6 to grow from each hill, although it does seem to be going great guns so far, I've a lot to trim back

[Belto]

Looking forward to a good growing season, but what type of pests are attracted to hop plants and what is the prevention or cure.
I had a bag given to me some while ago and they were covered in white fly so I binned them.
Spraying on a regular basis would be a bit concerning for obvious reasons.

[Hoppkins]

Says on the back of my Provado can be used on "Protected Tomatoes"

I use it on my chilli plants, after reading that im a bit apprehenseive about using it again since ive used it at least twice now. Im not sure i can use this on my herbs ( i havent bothered yet ).

Im guessing by protected tomatoes it means cover the fruits?

Here are the instructions:

[RabMaxwell]

What a coincidence i am also of gathering poo for my hops today

[bitter_dave]

What a coincidence i am also of gathering poo for my hops today

Did you have a curry Rab?