I bought three hop rhizomes (Centennial, Goldings, and Willamette) at the Bell’s General Store in Kalamazoo three years ago, and have been growing hops in containers following the method outlined by Chris Colby in BYO ever since. Last year was the first season that the bines yielded a usable amount of hop cones; they found their way into an ordinary bitter (Centennial and Goldings) and a wheat mild (Willamette).
Despite the unseasonably cool weather (well, it is Chicago) the first shoots poked above the soil several weeks ago. The first set of photos here was taken on 11 April, and they were already well on their way in spite of the cold temperatures. After the pictures were taken, I pruned back each plant to just two or three bines to direct the plants' energy to a smaller number of focal points. The second set of pictures was taken yesterday; other than a couple warm days, it’s been a pretty cold, dismal April, but the hops don’t seem to mind at all. I strung up new twine just before the second set was taken; I tied on a lead line and wrapped it around the shoots to encourage them to grow up to the main line.
I picked the rhizomes based on my brewing preferences at the time; Goldings and Willamette for the British (and generally British-styled) session ales I like, and the Centennial for the perfect Two Hearted Ale clone that’s always in the back of my mind. The Goldings have been slow growers, the Centennials producing a bit better; the Willamettes, though, take off prodigiously, and produced 3 or 4 times as many hops by weight last season as either of the other two bines.The first season was really devoted to establishing the root system, but at this point I just wish I had ground into which I could put these guys; once they get going, the roots can get pretty monstrous. There’s no option for that living in our lawnless coach house; however, we’ve just finalized a move to Salt Lake City to start doctoral school at the University of Utah this fall, which may allow them to get directly into the earth in a garden patch there. That is, if we have room in the truck to move them and if they’ll survive the trip; I’ll have to decide as the move date gets closer whether or not we can fit them and if they’re hale enough to make it several days locked in a truck with no sun. If they don’t come with us, though, I have a couple good friends who will be able to foster them. For now, I’ll just enjoy watching the bines sprout like crazy as the sun and warmth build to full spring and summer.
