![]() In July, the lowest four feet of foliage and lateral branches can be removed to aid in air circulation and reduce disease development. Most cones are produced on the upper part of the plant. The main concern is to support the vines and prevent the sidearms from tangling. Hops mainly grow vertically, but lateral sidearms extend from the main vine and produce flowers. One to three vines are trained clockwise on a string which has been staked to the hill. When the young vines are about 1 foot long, two to six vigorous vines are selected for each hill and the rest are removed. This quarantine was established to prevent the introduction of diseases. There is an exception for the states of Washington and Idaho meeting specific conditions. The first year the hop plant requires frequent light waterings.Ī hop quarantine in the state of Oregon prohibits hop plants and all plant parts, except kiln dried cones, from entry into the state directly, indirectly, diverted or reconsigned. Hills should be spaced at least 3 feet apart if the hills are of the same variety and 5 feet apart if they are different. ![]() Plant two rhizomes per hill with the buds pointed up and cover with 1 inch of loose soil. If planting is delayed, keep rhizomes refrigerated in a plastic bag to prevent them from drying. In cold climates you can plant rhizomes in pots and transplant in June. The soil should be worked into a fine, mellow condition prior to planting. Plant in early spring once the threat of frost is gone but no later than May. Look for space along fences, garage, or property lines. A strong support system is needed for the plant to climb on. The soil should be tilled to create a weed free area. If manure or compost is applied around the hop plant, fertilizer applications may be reduced accordingly. The nitrogen may be applied in split applications 2 or 3 times between March and mid-July. Nitrogen is required at a rate of approximately 150 lbs per acre (3 lbs N/1000 ft2). Fertilizers rich in potassium, phosphate, and nitrogen should be applied each spring. Poorly drained, strongly alkaline or saline soils should be avoided. Soils with a pH of 6 to 7.5 is ideal for hop production. In dry climates the hop plant will produce best if supplemental irrigation is provided.Ī deep well drained, sandy loam soil is best. The hop plant requires ample moisture in the spring followed by warm summer weather. As a consequence of daylength and season length, hop production is limited to latitudes between 35 and 55 degrees. Direct sunlight and long daylength (15 hours or more) is also needed. A minimum of 120 frost free days are needed for flowering. The hop plant produces best under specific climatic and soil conditions. A normal crop of hops should be expected the second year. During the first year little growth and few flowers are produced because the plant is establishing its root system. The rootstock is an underground structure consisting of both rhizomes (with buds) and true roots (without buds) which may penetrate the soil to a depth of 15 feet or more. Hops are heterogeneous and new plants coming from seed could be either male or female. The male plant serves only as a pollenizer, but is not essential for the female plants to produce hop cones. Only the females produce the cone-shaped "hops" used in brewing. The hop is dioecious, having separate male and female plants. They reach their ultimate height of 15-25 feet by the end of June when, in response to shortening daylength, vines stop growing vertically and produce sidearms which bear the flowers. In the spring and early summer, vines grow rapidly, winding around their support in a clockwise direction and clinging with strong, hooked hairs. is an herbaceous perennial, producing annual vines from an overwintering rootstock.
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