How to Plant & Care for Golden Hops
Golden hops (Humulus lupulus) is also commonly known as common hops. Golden hops is probably best known for its use in flavoring beer. It is a fast-growing herbaceous, fragrant, perennial growing vine that can grow to between 12 and 20 feet in height. Golden hops is an indigenous plant to Asia and Europe. It is hardy in the USDA Zones 4 to 9. The growing habit of golden hops is that of a typical vine. However, according to the University of Vermont, botanically, golden hops is actually considered a bine, since the plant has small hairs which cling to objects. Plant golden hops in full sun and make sure the plants are provided light, well-draining soil. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Cultivate the planting area for your golden hops to a depth of between 10 and 12 inches. You can use a garden fork, shovel, or a roto-tiller, if you have one. Mix into the soil 3 to 4 inches of rotted manure, leaf mold, compost or other organic matter.
-
2
Soak the golden hops rhizomes in warm water (approximately 75 degrees F) for one to two hours prior to planting.
-
-
3
Create 10- to 12-inch-deep rows and space each row 10 to 12 feet apart. Dig holes in the center of each row. Try and make each hole twice the diameter of each golden hops rhizome, but about the same depth. Space each hole between 3 and 5 feet apart, depending on the variety you're growing.
-
4
Plant a golden hops rhizome into a hole. It should be planted vertically, with the thick end facing up. Cover the golden hops rhizome lightly with soil. Try and keep it planted so it's barely covered with soil; no more than approximately ½ inch.
-
5
Water each of the golden hops thoroughly. Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch down the planted rows. Use grass clippings, straw, compost or similar organic matter. When the golden hops bines grow to about 2 feet in height, start to train their growth habit by providing a strong support system such as trellises, arbors, fences or poles and wire. (Please see the References section for more information on how to train golden hops on poles and wire.)
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Golden hops prefers being grown in soil that has a pH of about 6.0 to 6.2.
Essential to growing a good crop of golden hops is proper irrigation. Golden hops needs plenty of water during its growing season.
Use care when watering golden hops. Water at the base of the stems, and avoid letting the leaves become wet. Excess moisture on the leaves of golden hops can exacerbate mildew and verticillium wilt.
If you cannot plant golden hops from rhizomes right away, keep them in a cool location until planting time.
