Growing Hops at Home
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 4:18 am
My son has started home brewing. He has make 3 batches so far. He has bought a good heavy stainless steel pot with a drain on the bottom as well as a bunch of stuff that you need for home brewing. He and a friend even made their own wort chiller out of copper pipe that they bent to size. So to aid him in this pursuit I am considering planting and growing hops for the process. From what I have read on the net and the little I learned from a seminar on growing hops I attended, this area of Pa is about an ideal climate for growing hops. The area from New York down to North Carolina works for growing hops here in the east and Pa is right smack dab in the middle of that range. The only problem with growing hops here in the East is mildew that grows in the east but does not effect the hops grown out west. That is why all the commercial hop growers are located out west. I am thinking of using a Tee Pee type trellis with the strings extending from a center pole to the ground in a circular pattern. The location I am thinking about using is the sunflower garden I have been planting for the Grandkids. I am torn about using that location because I still have Grandkids small enough to enjoy the sunflower fort, and they do still go up there on occasion . The plan would be to plant a high pole [ maybe 20' ] in the center of the 12' X 12' garden where I have already improved the soil, use 2 pulleys, one on either side of the pole to raise and lower a metal ring around the pole. The guide strings would be attached to the metal ring, raised to the top of the pole and the other end of the string attached to the ground forming a Tee Pee shaped structure. When the hops are ripe I would lower the ropes holding the metal ring and pick the hops from the ground with out having to use a ladder. Here is where I need some help, I have room to plant between 10 to 12 plants around the pole, If I plant different varieties will they cross pollinate and mess up the flavor? I would like to plant maybe 4 different kinds of hops, but I am reading that with the Tee Pee set up you should only plant one type. Has any body had any 1st hand experience with growing hops? Is cross pollination a problem? Is there any way around the problem? I was thinking about planting a 25 ft pole, hops are generally grown on 18 ft poles, will the extra height as well as the growing angle help stop the problems? Any help is appreciated.