Spring seems to have sprung in Roundwood and I'm thinking about planting some hops. Just found out that they're poisonous to dogs though so if I do plant any they'll have to be out of reach of my mutts. Was thinking about getting one of those baskets that attaches to the wall (kinda like a hanging basket) and trailing them up from there.
So is it possible to grow them in baskets?
Do they need a lot of soil or if I got a big enough basket would that suffice?
Any good books on the subject?
Thanks
Hops really do like to be growing direct in the ground, so wouldn't recommend growing them in a basket, unless you really have no other choice. I've heard the thing about them being poisonous to dogs, but mine has never shown any interest in them, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. I've never actually heard of anyone's dogs getting poisoned by hops, and I float about on a lot of forums.
A lot of things are poisonous in Nature. Luckily most animals have evolved knowing what to leave alone!
Quote from: Kevin Roundwood on February 10, 2015, 11:59:13 AM
Spring seems to have sprung in Roundwood
What? Surely its been snowing up there lately?
Yup - spring sprung and then sprang right out again... :P At least the lake isn't frozen over anymore
Might give them a go in the ground so.
Anyone bought them from here? http://www.thesecretgardener.com/5723/general/hop-plants/
Would many garden centres have them or are they too specialised?
Quote from: Kevin Roundwood on February 10, 2015, 11:59:13 AM
Just found out that they're poisonous to dogs though so if I do plant any they'll have to be out of reach of my mutts.
Dogs have zero interest in hops. My family have 3 dogs down in Laois and they will eat anything or so i thought. I held hop cones, from my hop plants growing at ground level, in their face to see would they even take them out of my hand, they actually recoiled in disgust from them. These guys normally eat their own puke, sheep poop, duck poop, raw mushrooms etc..
Quote from: shiny on February 10, 2015, 10:17:34 PM
Quote from: Kevin Roundwood on February 10, 2015, 11:59:13 AM
Just found out that they're poisonous to dogs though so if I do plant any they'll have to be out of reach of my mutts.
Dogs have zero interest in hops. My family have 3 dogs down in Laois and they will eat anything or so i thought. I held hop cones, from my hop plants growing at ground level, in their face to see would they even take them out of my hand, they actually recoiled in disgust from them. These guys normally eat their own puke, sheep poop, duck poop, raw mushrooms etc..
Ha ha, yes my dog seems to love phlegm and human piss, but no interest in hops, or even beer.
My understanding is that it's more the malt than the hops e.g. if you have hops from the end of the boil still saturated in sweet wort then that will attract them to it, or if you have a boilover and spill some hop material and don't mop it up quickly.
Quote from: Will_D on February 10, 2015, 01:25:21 PM
A lot of things are poisonous in Nature. Luckily most animals have evolved knowing what to leave alone!
Indeed! Except Us Humans!!!
Great. I was thinking alright that they don't show any interest in anything else in the garden. Unless a fox/goat/sheep/badger/horse/cow/elephant/unicorn managed to get in and shite everywhere - then it's wallow time! (and swallow time). filthy feckers...
Anyone get their hops in The Secret Garden place in Cork? www.thesecretgardener.com. Seems to be the only place I can find hops for sale in Ireland
I think there was a homebrew store in Waterford that did hop rhizomes.
Correction, Stradbally.
Homebrewguru.ie - seems to have disappeared.
Quote from: Kevin Roundwood on February 11, 2015, 03:17:25 PM
Great. I was thinking alright that they don't show any interest in anything else in the garden. Unless a fox/goat/sheep/badger/horse/cow/elephant/unicorn managed to get in and shite everywhere - then it's wallow time! (and swallow time). filthy feckers...
Anyone get their hops in The Secret Garden place in Cork? www.thesecretgardener.com. Seems to be the only place I can find hops for sale in Ireland
I've bought saplings from there, and was decent stock that all grew well, so probably worth a punt on the hops.
Just looked at the price, and they are a touch extortionate. Where are you based, as you should be able to get a few rhizomes if anyone is growing some locally.
In about a months time peoples will be splitting up rhizomes. Watch the threads.
Also after about 3 or 4 months there will be rooted cuttings available - watch the threads!
If you are really desparate then I would recommend Eicklman hops:
http://www.eickelmann.de/Hopfen-Shop/hop-products/ (http://www.eickelmann.de/Hopfen-Shop/hop-products/)
A few of us have bought from them - top class!
Oh rhizomes. This is the year I grow hops :)
Quote from: Taf on February 11, 2015, 07:02:03 PM
Just looked at the price, and they are a touch extortionate. Where are you based, as you should be able to get a few rhizomes if anyone is growing some locally.
I'm in Roundwood in Wicklow. If there's anyone close by I'll be happy to purchase a cutting/rhizome
Quote from: Will_D on February 11, 2015, 09:50:26 PM
In about a months time peoples will be splitting up rhizomes. Watch the threads.
Also after about 3 or 4 months there will be rooted cuttings available - watch the threads!
If you are really desparate then I would recommend Eicklman hops:
http://www.eickelmann.de/Hopfen-Shop/hop-products/ (http://www.eickelmann.de/Hopfen-Shop/hop-products/)
A few of us have bought from them - top class!
I think maybe I should watch the threads so! Eickelmann are a lot cheaper alright... I'm not in any mad rush but just thought now might be around the time to start planning. There's a big mad pagoda yolk in the garden that's just crying out for a rake of hop bines
There was a wiki on growing hops in Ireland but has since been removed. So here's my questions before i decide to do it or not.
1. Is the issue they might get too wet from rain?
2. Is it the temperature in not high enough?
Hops do very well in Ireland.
They tolerate rain but don't like cold/wet/boggy soils - free draining is good. You can always raise them up on mounds as they do commercially
Temperatures are no problem
They need 8 hours sun a day (in summer) to set the cones - so shade is a no-no
They don't like strong winds - the leaves get scorched but it does'nt kill them.
Like most plants sheltered / warm /south or south west facing ideal
Will, my back garden has really shite drainage. Any idea how big a mound would they'd need? About a foot high?
That would be ideal!
Hops are sprouting in Midleton.
Traditionally they were grown commercially in the south east of both Ireland and England, the south east of England won out in the end due primarily to ready supply of cheap workers from our favourite soap opera The East End. It was considered healthy for the children to get some fresh air, while the parents worked during the summer on the hop farms
Well I spurged anyway and got a cascade rhizome from the Secret Gardener! Just arrived today in a pot with what looks like a few shootssticking out already.
Should I keep it inside for another month or so or is it alright to stick it outside?
The woman in the hardware store in Roundwood told me they can be up to 4 weeks behind the growing season compared to Greystones due to the elevation (you'd swear we were in the alps)
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/18/77501c71cc940ba7d0f6d25265d2ad7d.jpg)
Well I stuck it in the ground anyway - or rather I stuck it on the ground and built a mould of soil around it. Deep Throat tells me hops won't grow in Roundwood (esp. yankee hops) but feck it I'll give it a bash anyway!
Just heard the weather forecast though and possibly picked a bad day to plant it...