Hop Cultivation

February 21, 2010 · Posted in Homebrewing, Meetings, Supplies · 1 Comment

At the February Club Meeting, Don shared some tips and techniques on growing and harvesting your own hops. Although Central IL is not known as Hop Country, they grow really well here - as many members can attest. Not only is it fun to chat with your neighbors about your hop garden, it gives you control over an additional aspect of your beers.

Here are some of the tips that were shared:

Plant your rhizomes in early spring, after the last sign of frost
Plant in rows running east-west (facing south)
Plant in well-drained soil (consider burying a large container to keep the runners in check)
Trim lower leaves to keep pests and mildew away
Harvest when cones have a papery feel and are very fragrant
After drying the hops, freeze in vacuum-sealed bags
Compare your hops to something that should be comparable before using in the boil (or use them for dry-hopping only)

Some of the sources for hop rhizomes include:

Midwest Supplies

Adventures in Homebrewing

Other Club Members!