For any of you homebrewers who have been 'sitting on the fence' waiting to decide if you will grow hops, the time for planting is quickly running out depending upon where you are located. The northern areas probably still have another month or so, but in the southern climes you need to get your rhizomes planted ASAP. In addition, the window for obtaining rhizomes is quickly closing; many suppliers are already out of stock, and growers such as myself are reluctant to dig up rhizomes once they have major growth of their plants. However, you might be lucky to find some rhizomes on "clearance" at some local homebrew shops, and based on some recent posts in our Grow-Hops group, it appears that members in the north, especially Canada, might still be able to provide rhizomes, as well. Here is our list of links to sources that you can check to see what they still have in stock:
If anyone needs advice on any aspect of growing, harvesting, or storing homegrown hops, our Grow-Hops group currently has 2,840 members, which includes many experienced growers and several commercial growers as well, so we are undoubtedly the best Internet resource for information to assist you. If interested:
It is not difficult to grow hops, and once they are established each plant should provide between one and two pounds of dried hops; considering the price of hops, that's a pretty good value.
Cheers.
Bill Velek