Due to the hop shortage, I am interested in growing my own hops during the summer. Does anyone know where I can get a hop plant in the Grand Rapids area? Any other useful information on growing hops would be appreciated.

Thanks!

I'm kinda interested in growing hops myself, but I haven't looked into it too deep. My best guess would be to find a local plant specialty store. We've got a few in the Charleston area. Maybe a place like that won't have any but could get some.

I'm kinda interested in growing hops myself, but I haven't looked into it too deep. My best guess would be to find a local plant specialty store. We've got a few in the Charleston area. Maybe a place like that won't have any but could get some.

I found a place online that allows you to pre-order hops rhizomes. I have no idea how reputable this place is, but I placed an order a few months ago for some Cascade and Magnum rhizomes never-the-less. I received a seed catalog from them about a month ago. They look on the level. Hopefully I'll get some viable rhizomes this spring! If you're interested in checking them out, you can find them here:

http://www.thymegarden.com/site/561124/page/217466

Let me know if you decide to place an order with them. I'd like to know if you end up with some decent rhizomes.

Peace!
Dave

Hop rhizomes are pretty difficult to find these days.

I came across two additional sources of them. Only one of them, however, takes pre-orders though.

They are:
Midwest Homebrewing and Winemaking Supplies
(http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products/ProdBySubCat.aspx?SubCat=11179) has hop rhizomes that can be pre-ordered. Rhizomes will be shipped on April 1st.


Freshops (http://www.freshops.com/rhizinfo.html) is not allowing pre-orders but an ordered form for them should be posted by March 20.

- Scott

Growing your own hops is a lot of fun. I planted Willamette and Cascade last year and got enough hops for about two batchs. They say the second year you'll get a better harvest, lets hope! It was the most satisfying beer I've brewed to date (maybe not the best, but definitely the most satisfying). I got mine from the local Homebrew shop, so thats a good place to start if your lucky enough to have one close. But if not, get on any list you can. You won't be sorry, it's worth the trouble. If you do get some, be ready! At the peek of summer they were growing almost four inches a day. As soon as you plant them you need to start looking for poles and lines (mine grew 18' tall), cause you'll need them sooner than you think. The hop shortage might be working against you this year, but good luck.

lunaticlager

ON TAP:
Oktoberfest
Golden "Brown" Ale
Bohiemian Pilsner
Belgian Saison

IN THE WORKS:
Dopplebock
Belgian Blond
Vienna Lager

I have 2 plants growing in the room i am in now. The plant did not do good the 1st year i planted it(i think a horse ate the top off it.
I dug it up a couple months ago, cut the root in half, & planted it in 2 planters inside. I figure this will give the roots a jumpstart for the year(& they may have a few feet on them before they get planted outside.

Can't tell you where to get any rhizomes, but will lend my experience. It does take a couple years to get your hops growing well. You will not get much of a harvest the first year. but as earlier stated, they will grow 18 feet or more in subsequent years. I also found a small crop of hops growing along the road last year, and I am staking out the spot, so I can "yoink" the roots before they grow much.
I used my home grown Cascade hops in many batches of my pale ales.
I have not brewed in a few years, but the hops are still going strong in the garden. I think 2008 will be the year of my home brewery's comeback. Just need some malt and yeast and I will be ready.

Heres my crop so far(indoors)

Wow those are beautiful!

- Scott

Just wanted to let you guys know that thethymegarden.com delivered my rhizomes earlier this month, and all three of them were viable. The 2 Cascades were a bit small, and look as though they were cut from a young bine. The Magnum rhizome looks like its from an old bine and is very large. All of them are thriving right now.

Heres hoping for a good crop!

Cheers
Dave

GuitarLord5000 wrote:Just wanted to let you guys know that thethymegarden.com delivered my rhizomes earlier this month, and all three of them were viable. The 2 Cascades were a bit small, and look as though they were cut from a young bine. The Magnum rhizome looks like its from an old bine and is very large. All of them are thriving right now.

Heres hoping for a good crop!

Cheers
Dave

I ordered the same thing from The Thyme Garden 2 Cascades and 2 Magnums. My Magnums were a bit bigger as well. Got them both in the ground this past Monday. Now all I have to do is build a trellis for them to grow on. I will post pictures when I get construction completed. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks, weather permitting.

http://jjitzq.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pBo2XooNdIBlXYBR64YJMrxUpOCeWqZQoll8CP-w_yR4S5YxJ333Qlg8VaIJpcsH0cBF4XPhNUGM

The link will take you to a picture of my design of the trellis I plan to construct. I will need get going on this as mine have already broken ground! I wanted to post pictures but don't know how to do that just yet.

Very nice design!

I can't wait to get home. My hops are already almost a foot tall, and I have no trellis for them yet. I'll be doing something pretty simple. Maybe an 8-10 foot pole for each plant, with some twine going from the tops of the poles to my house.
I've come to the conclusion that hops gardening (at least in Southern Louisiana) is pretty darn fun! These things grow FAST! I only hope that the varieties I've chosen do well in my 9A growth zone. I sure would love to not have to buy any hops next year!
Best of luck with your hops garden. I'd love to see some pics of it soon!

Cheers
Dave

my old plants (3 yrs.) are almost taller than me right now, and the ones that i started off from them are about a foot tall. that's what you expect in the warm sunny Ariz. climate, so i hope for a good crop this year.
gary