National Homebrew Club Ireland

General Discussions => Chit Chat => Topic started by: Rats on July 20, 2013, 01:38:12 PM

Title: Hops question
Post by: Rats on July 20, 2013, 01:38:12 PM
I know that when the season is over you have to cut them back and protect them for the winter.
My question is if you have it in a pot as an ornament do you need to cut it back as well or can you keep it going all year round?
Title: Re: Hops question
Post by: Tom on July 20, 2013, 03:04:35 PM
Everything above ground will die back by around November anyway, so you might as well cut it back, though the longer you leave it, the better it's store of carbohdrates for next year.
Title: Re: Hops question
Post by: Rats on July 20, 2013, 03:06:54 PM
I want to keep a cutting indoors and use it as a ornament plant.
Title: Re: Hops question
Post by: Tom on July 20, 2013, 03:12:41 PM
You can cut the bine and dry them out in an airy room, and use them as a hop garland
http://www.essentiallyhops.co.uk/acatalog/Dried_Hop_Garlands.html (http://www.essentiallyhops.co.uk/acatalog/Dried_Hop_Garlands.html) if that's the case, but it will be dead. Maybe someone's tried to keep a hop evergreen, but I'm sceptical.

They start to think about flowering once the days get shorter, so unless you can halt that with artificial light... try it though, and let us know.
Title: Re: Hops question
Post by: Rats on July 20, 2013, 03:16:32 PM
Want to give a cutting to a friend that opened a micro brewery. He's planing on doing tours and I thought it would be nice if he can show the people what a hop plant look like. :)
Title: Re: Hops question
Post by: Tom on July 20, 2013, 03:21:12 PM
Ok, I get you.

Well, I haven't tried it, and you'd probably be best with a dwarf hop (First Gold or Gimmli) in order to keep it sensible. I'm not sure how the HSE would feel about live plants in a food setting, mind. You could try Humulus Japonicus, which is an actual ornamental hop. That might be evergreen (although it doesn't much look like a hop).

But unless the plant can be tricked into thinking it's still autumn, I doubt you'll have a year-round hop plant to show.

So, who's the lucky brewer?
Title: Re: Hops question
Post by: Rats on July 20, 2013, 03:26:12 PM
Tx for the info. Will look at different varieties.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boyne-Valley-Brewery-Ltd/520040968029646?fref=ts (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boyne-Valley-Brewery-Ltd/520040968029646?fref=ts)