I got 3 cascade rhizomes ready for planting today. I’ve read a book on the subject and feel pretty comfortable with the process: Planting them horizontally in hills, lots of compost, setting up a tent trestle, etc. Does anyone have any last minute tips or best practices? Anything would be helpful.
Thanks
Get 'em into the dirt. The sooner the better. Sitting in the fridge is waiting for failure. You sound like you’ve done the right research, now go for it!
My only advice is find the “sunniest” place SWMBO will allow them to be placed.
Thanks…I has them in some compost in the time I had between receiving and planting. They look pretty good. I’ll post a pic later today.
After on week, hops are growing well. 1 vine is at 3" and the other 2 are at 2’ tall. I’ll begin training up the trestle next week.
Watering every afternoon.
I’d be careful about watering them daily if they are new plants. Since they don’t have much growth above or below the surface if they are overwatered there’s nowhere for the excess moisture to go but sit around the rhizome. However that doesn’t mean you necessarily are overwatering them by watering daily. If there is good drainage then daily may well be the appropriate frequency.
reverseapachemaster: Thanks for the advise. Yes, I would normally agree the overwatering is a death sentence for most plants…I’ve killed my more than my fair share.
However, the book I read “The Homebrewer’s Garden” by Joe Fisher & Dennis Fisher recommended daily watering early on in the development, along with a good prepping of the soil for good drainage. Additionally, it recommended planting them to be planted on a “mound” which would allow for extra drainage and favorable root pruning in the spring.
They’re growing like weeds so far so we’ll see…I’ll update again next week.
I planted my rhizomes horizontally, and have since found through reading and experience that planting them vertically is better.
Horizontally, they will really spread laterally through your hop yard. I grow many varieties only about 3 feet apart, so it’s an ongoing battle to keep them restrained to their area. This spring I will dig them all up and replant them with a wider spacing, and hack back the crowns at the same time.
Have fun with those new hops!
el_capitan: Thanks…I haven’t read that about digging up and replanting. Make a lot of sense in controlling the growth. I’ll do that this coming winter.
Update: I was at Auburn’s spring game last weekend so I wasn’t able to update (War Eagle!). 2 out of 3 vines are growing well and have attached to the trestles. The 3rd is slow going, but is making progress. I’ve noticed that some insects are making a small meal out of my leaves. Wifey suggests spraying with manure tea…what do ya’ll think?
I would use a weak dish soap/water solution instead of manure tea. ROLL TIDE
Buy an army of Ladybugs at a garden store. If you use soapy water be gentle with the amount of soap.
Update:
I added fresh compost to the base about a week ago. Lots of rain later, we’re up to three ft on 1st, two ft on the 2nd and 3rd. Also, I used the fish-oil organic “insecticide” the wifey found from last season…seems to be keeping the bugs off the leaves.
All is still good…had lots of rain in TN
Hops have grown well. Hit them with the left over “insecticide” again. Should have some yield soon.
+1. That pretty much sums it up!