‘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.
JW
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
Matt Hendry
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/
Jack
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…
John
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.
Marcel
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.
Brett
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.
Dan
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…
Sam
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!