Hop Rhizomes
‘Tis the season to buy hop rhizomes or at least that is what I have read. Usually around this time of year, I will get inundated with emails from home brewing stores making sure I know it’s time to order rhizomes. Usually they are only available in February and March, right in time for the growing season.
I think I need to revisit this post about growing hops.
My plan is to buy from Northern Brewer and get a couple of rhizomes. I want to get a bittering variety and an aroma variety so my plan is to grow Magnum and Mt. Hood. I think those two will make for some good American style ale brewing in the Fall.
My brother has a pretty good set up for his garden and he is on board for some hop growing this summer. I have been jealous of other homebrewing blogger around harvest time. Here’s to a favorable growing season and a good yield to show off on our blog.
on February 17th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
If you want to shop around for rhizomes, take a look at http://www.nikobrew.com – I just picked up some rhizomes from them, as they were each $1-2 cheaper.
Best of luck
-JW
on February 18th, 2010 at 12:32 am
Also buy you direct from the Hop Farmers like Gorst Valley ,Foothill Farms or Rising Sun farms .
http://www.gorstvalleyhops.com/
http://www.foothillhops.com/
http://www.coloradoorganichops.com/
on February 18th, 2010 at 9:43 am
If you buy them now, when do you plant them? I was thinking about growing a couple of bines this year, too, but right now There is 24″ of snow where I’d be putting them. How do you store them until planting time? I think I have a good idea for a brewadvice question…
on February 18th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Good buying tips, guys.
As for how to store them and when to plant them, those are good questions. I was going to read up on it once I bought them.
on February 18th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
This will be my first year planting, too, and grabbed mine from Midwest Supplies because of the cost.
I read that you are supposed to store them in the fridge, slightly moist, but to watch for signs of rot. I think a damp paper towel would provide enough moisture for it to survive, but whisk away any excess.
on February 22nd, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Thanks for the reminder about ordering. This is my first year planting and am researching varieties now.
Two interesting facts I have come across: (1) you actually plant the rhizomes as early as mid-March, even if frost can still occur and (2) the hop vines can grow like weeds and choke nearby plants.
on February 25th, 2010 at 3:34 am
I came across a site for an organic brewery in British Columbia while looking into places to buy rhizomes in Canada. They offer a free pdf of their hops growing manual.
http://www.crannogales.com/hopsmanual.html
No idea how useful it is but I thought I’d post it for anyone interested…
on March 8th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
I just ordered 3 rhizomes from Northern Brewer (Magnum, Willamette, & Cascade).
I have a great site and a good trellis plan but, I can not seem to find out how many “good” vines I can get from one rhizome. I probably need to read more on the topic but if the Brew Dude’s can spare me from learning this on my own, it would be greatly appreciated. Keep brewing!