Are you into brewing your own beer, or maybe thinking about brewing? Cathy Isom tells you a few things about how to grow your own hops. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.
If you love beer, then you might consider growing the crop that is needed for flavoring your favorite beverage. If not for yourself, then sell them at local farmer’s markets, or to local breweries specializing in the craft beer business.
It’s as simple as knowing which (from about 120) varieties that grow best in your area, what flavor characteristics you desire in your beer, and the desired yield.
Hops are a dioecious plant, which means there is a separate male and female plant. The female plant grows the flowers used in the brewing process, while the male plants are the pollinators.
Hops are hardy perennials that need lots of sun and space to thrive. They will also need a lot of water – about an inch and a half of water each week – and a lot of space and support, because they quickly climb upwards.
Hops prefer not to compete with weeds, so use a well-rotted organic mulch to keep encroaching plants at bay.
I’m Cathy Isom…