Hop Growing 2016

[windrider]

Haven’t seen a thread posted for this yet, so thought I’d start off the annual growing topic.

Followed last year’s one with interest. Thought I’d give it a go this year. Ordered a Dwarf Prima Donna bare root from Essentially Hops and planted it yesterday.

I’m a novice gardener and followed the planting leaflet. Should I cover the crown with a couple of inches of soil and compost. Or will it be okay like it is?

[Peatbogbrewer]

i planted prima donna last year so this year to should have grown more rhizome and should produce more hops. I mixed well rotted manure with a good compost and soil and planted so the crown of the rhizome was a couple of inches below the surface. It came up fine. Don't expect much bine or hop growth in the 1st season, it needs to spread out the rhizome this year. Mine's in a big pot.

[tourer]

I would like to know how to defeat the bloody greenfly without using chemicals. Had loads of ladybirds and their offspring so hopefully they are still hanging around.

[GrowlingDogBeer]

Spray the plants with soapy water to get rid of greenfly.

[scuppeteer]

will it be okay like it is?

That's perfect, good job. Good root stock on that so you'll probably get a few hops to brew with this year, so long as you look after it.

[windrider]

will it be okay like it is?

That's perfect, good job. Good root stock on that so you'll probably get a few hops to brew with this year, so long as you look after it.

If I get anything off it I will be happy lol. A local brewery near me is doing a hop growing club and using Prima Donna so it’ll be interesting to see how everyone gets on.

[duncans]

I potted up a couple of rhizomes last november. No sign of growth yet. With the recent warm weather I was hoping to see some activity by now. Fingers crossed for a little while yet...

[hazelbrew]

I planted First Gold and Amos Early Bird in February

First gold has started sprouting already. nothing from the Early bird yet.

[robbarwell]

My Chinook has kicked off, broken ground already

[tourer]

Spray the plants with soapy water to get rid of greenfly.

GrowlngDogBeer is there any sort of soap to water ratio? Are we talking about normal bar soap?
Thanks

[andyCo]

I would like to know how to defeat the bloody greenfly without using chemicals. Had loads of ladybirds and their offspring so hopefully they are still hanging around.

You can knock off the little blighters with a good firm hosing , ladybirds should do the trick but my experience is they don't fully clear the plant.
Makes sense as if they clean up all the green fly then there's nothing left for their larvae.
This years trick is plant companion plants that hopefully will draw away the green fly from my hops, Nasturtium , marigolds, chives and wild garlic is my first line of defense this year.

Andy

[Pegasus]

I potted up a couple of rhizomes last november. No sign of growth yet. With the recent warm weather I was hoping to see some activity by now. Fingers crossed for a little while yet...

Me too. Goldings started early Feb (now about 6 inches), Fuggles and Challenger kicked off a few weeks ago. I'm near Bromley, Kent.

[Tony1951]

I planted three First Gold / Primadonna about a week ago. I had them stored in an IKEA bag filled with loamy soil behind the house for about six weeks since I had got them from Willmington Nurseries. The Rhyzomes were already sprouting quite well when I planted them so I expect to see them above ground pretty soon. I live at 55North so I may need to wait longer than people in the south.

I'm not expecting to crop much this season. They seem to need a year to get established.

[windrider]

I think we have the first signs of growth on the Prima Donna

[Peatbogbrewer]

I think we have the first signs of growth on the Prima Donna

My prime donna and wild hop has surfaced too, year two so hoping for some for brew this year!