Hops
My DH likes to brew beer occasionally, and started growing his own hops this year. Last weekend we put up the trellis that he made for them which is nearly 14 feet tall. I took pictures but waited until after our first big storm to post them (just in case it turned out to be short-lived). We had some strong winds yesterday, and the trellis bent over and swayed a lot but rode out the storm in fine shape. Here it is. We're thinking of putting blinking lights on top to warn away small aircraft. :-)
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(post #12578, reply #1 of 14)
Hops can put a pretty hefty load on the hop trellis. I hope that is stands up to summer storms when the hops are full grown. Have you seen pics of the Oregon hops farms. They use telephone poles and cables. Good luck to your DH with the brewing. I used to brew after the big brewers consolidated all the regional breweries and before the good micro brews became available.
Gretchen Bandy, who doesn't post here anymore, grows hops up the side of her barn. The ornamental hops does really well but the brewing hops, less so.
BJ
(post #12578, reply #2 of 14)
one of my many 'mistakes' was planting hops, It spreads by underground runners which spread thru to the roots of all my other plants. Every spring, I have to yank and pull a good wheelbarrow full just to keep it under control. It started as golden Japanese hops but to me it's now just plain green hops.
(post #12578, reply #3 of 14)
He's planning to also install some guy wires (as opposed to gal wires?) from the top corners staked down to the ground, so that should help. He's been a home brewer for many years, but this is our first foray into hops growing. He ordered 3 varieties from one of the beer catalogs last fall.
(post #12578, reply #4 of 14)
Gee, I think I like the gal wires better. But if they are secured to the top I guess they wouldn't be topless, would they?
BJ
(post #12578, reply #5 of 14)
No, no topless gal wires. :) Actually at this point it may go guy/gal wireless. We've had really strong winds this week and the trellis is standing strong. And I guessed the height wrong on it. I think I posted it as 14 feet tall, but I was wrong. It's 18 feet tall.
(post #12578, reply #6 of 14)
Beej is right. Once they climb up it, it'll be VERY top heavy and be a giant sail. It'll topple in a good stiff breeze. I think guy wires are probably necessary.
Jeana
Never try to baptize a cat.
(post #12578, reply #7 of 14)
No matter what happens, we're rooting for you and the hops and the brewer. We're not rooting for the weather.
BJ
(post #12578, reply #8 of 14)
No, not rooting for the weather. But she like her fun.
Jeana
Never try to baptize a cat.
(post #12578, reply #9 of 14)
Thanks to you both. I'll suggest the guy wires again. Now that the garden is mostly 'in', maybe DH will reconsider.
(post #12578, reply #10 of 14)
Here's an update on our hops trellis. It has lasted the entire summer successfully, but did acquire one rope tied across the top to limit the swaying in all the thunderstorms we've had this year. One of the varieties has ripened earlier than the others, so he didn't want to pull down the trellis to harvest it. Hence the scaffolding.
(post #12578, reply #11 of 14)
Very impressive!
Jeana
Never try to baptize a cat.
(post #12578, reply #12 of 14)
When will the beer be ready?
(post #12578, reply #13 of 14)
Good question! He hasn't brewed in a while. I'm hoping he'll do a batch sometime this month. Then it takes about 4 weeks before it's drinkable.
(post #12578, reply #14 of 14)
I grow hops on a trellis on the west side of the house. They are set to bloom now but they of course never get the chance because before they can do that it starts getting cold and it is too late. They are covered now with buds. They grow about 25' or more up the side of the trellis and my son stretched a line to the second story over the kitchen and they are up there. I have grown them for years because of the leaves. They cover my trellis.