Chronicle of growing my own.

[RickBeer]

I wish I could join in, but instead of a "green thumb" I got a "brown & withered" one. As a matter of fact that's how I get dandelions out of my yard... I just start taking care of them, dead in a week guaranteed.

Sure you're talking about your thumb?

[mashani]

A couple: While I think hops are dangerous to pets, dogs are unlikely to eat them. You could also use something to repel the dogs, some kind of spray? Or grow the hops on a trellis surrounded with chicken wire or sheep fence, those are too flimsy to climb easily. It's also a pretty rare dog that will climb any fence, though I have seen it. Is there any kind of community garden in your area?

Hmm, never thought about the community gardens. I will inquire if hops are ok.

RE: dogs, I foster some insane herding dogs that will go over anything if they want to. We are talking dogs that would leap into the middle of a flock of sheep or cows and literally jump across their backs to get tot the other side of the flock if they thought it was necessary. I know for a fact they can go over 6' chain link. All it would take is for them to decide what is in there is mine, which they would rapidly figure out because they are wicked smart. Then if the wrong kind of critter that "doesn't belong" to get on the other side and they would try to chase it out of there.

[John Sand]

That's a good point Mash. I keep a pretty good cat, she doesn't claw the furniture or the family. But chaos in the living room woke me and my wife at 0550 the other day. I went to find the cat sitting calmly on the steps, but candlesticks and wooden birds had taken a hit. While straightening up, my wife found a single dead fly. My cat is death on bugs, and no crystal would stand in the way of her kill.

[philm00x]

Here they are after almost 3 weeks. Starting to climb fast, especially the Cascades. Thinking I should rotate the NB pot to where the Cascades are so the can alternate sunlight exposure.

[gwcr]

Those are looking good Phil! I just got mine in the pots on Sunday. How long was it before they broke through the soil for you?

[philm00x]

Pretty quickly- 3, maybe 4 days? I've been trying train them to walk the twine instead of just shoot up along the stakes. That seems to be the hardest thing since planting them.

[BigPapaG]

Pretty quickly- 3, maybe 4 days? I've been trying train them to walk the twine instead of just shoot up along the stakes. That seems to be the hardest thing since planting them.

Don't ya' have ta' get 'em drunk afore ya' make 'em walk the twine?

[Dawg LB Steve]

Pretty quickly- 3, maybe 4 days? I've been trying train them to walk the twine instead of just shoot up along the stakes. That seems to be the hardest thing since planting them.

Don't ya' have ta' get 'em drunk afore ya' make 'em walk the twine?

But seriously folks, I've had one grower and one brewery tour guide tell me you can actually watch hops grow unlike grass! Was told they could grow up to a foot from morning to evening! They are an invasive vine though, that spreads through the roots.

[John Sand]

Mine are second year, but 7' tall.

[BlackDuck]

Hey Phil, will you continue to grow these in pots, or will you eventually transplant them into the ground?

[philm00x]

I plan on letting them grow in these pots this year all the way through harvesting, if I get anything to harvest. Next year they'll go into bigger pots. They won't go into the ground because I live in a condo and can't plant directly into the ground.

[DaYooper]

But seriously folks, I've had one grower and one brewery tour guide tell me you can actually watch hops grow unlike grass! Was told they could grow up to a foot from morning to evening! They are an invasive vine though, that spreads through the roots.

You aint kidding. We were up north the other weekend looking at a house. The day we arrived some were just starting to push their way up. A couple days later they were a foot tall. And that is their slow growing time! Now we are waiting to see if any of the European varieties take to a northern Michigan climate.

[BlackDuck]

I plan on letting them grow in these pots this year all the way through harvesting, if I get anything to harvest. Next year they'll go into bigger pots. They won't go into the ground because I live in a condo and can't plant directly into the ground.

Thanks...I've been considering trying to grow a couple too, just didn't know if they could live in pots their entire life.

[mtsoxfan]

Mine are 7 days since sprouting, about 7-10 inches tall. The vines are prickly, bend easily, so I just wrap around the twine and they seem to keep the spiral going. We'll see if the continue as they grow, but I fully expect them to. If not, we will have a talk...

[Ibasterd]

Mine have broke ground. Does anyone know if you can top these off to control the height?