Where’s the best place to plant Hops?

Whether you’re a homebrewer, gardener or trying to buy a present but all you can think of is “they like beer?” Hops can be a great addition to gardens and allotments. However, it is worth putting in a lot of consideration before planting a hop. Not because they are difficult plants to grow, quite the opposite. Hops are resistant, get on with other plants well and generally aren’t fussy. In fact they’re a little too successful.  If left unchecked they can get out of control, so prior planning prevents hops becoming a pain.

Roots are probably the biggest consideration you need to make when it comes to hop growing. The large mass of roots at the centre of a hop plant is called the crown. This will lead into many, and I mean many, off shoots that travel far and grow thick. Up down and all around. These offshoots can also start producing buds meaning your hop will also start springing up a few feet away. Despite their sturdiness these roots are unlikely to do any damage to plants or other structures. But you may not want it taking over the place.

This leads to a few considerations. First is do you want to try and block the roots. Stone tiles a few inches deep surrounding the hop should be enough to keep it in check. The roots may eventually go under and up again but this is fairly unlikely. For extra security you may consider planting the hop while still in a pot. If you have an old or cracked large pot the plant will have enough space while still being controlled. Though if the roots travelling is such an issue then it is probably better to keep it in a pot over ground, rather than underground wombling free.

Then there is the issue of do you ever plan to move the plant. We have a whole article on the topic but to summarise, it isn’t easy. So if this might ever be a possibility then try to make the hop easy to access. An open space with soft soil is the best situation. Many like to plant hops by trees or hedges for the aesthetic. While lovely there is a real risk that removing such a hop will damage the tree.

We’ve looked down below so let’s now look up high. Hops are bines meaning they are vine like plants that wrapped around a structure rather than attaching to them. They follow the sun clockwise gain a tight grip on whatever they find. It’s up to us then to provide the best medium possible before they make their own choice. The classics are of course a trellis, string, metal pole or frame. You’ll also often hear of them growing up gazebos, pagodas or other garden fixtures.

As mentioned earlier many like to have hops climbing up trees and along hedges. Hops get along fine with other plants as a general rule, however the stems getting out of control can potentially cause problems. Hops will cover a space if given a chance. They can completely envelop a tree or cover everything on the ground. Obviously this could cause problems, from blacking out other plants to damaging a tree that isn’t strong enough for that mass of bines.

Luckily this is easily solved. You can chop away at hops with little to no regard. Well a little fungicide after wouldn’t hurt so the cut doesn’t get infected. Commercially hops are kept to only a few stems so the plants can be perfectly healthy without reaching their full potential. Cut the hop back to the size that suits your needs. To either stop the plant taking over or making the hop cones more accessible.

So you’ve found a spot that works for your needs, but what about the hop? In general they are not overly needy plants. They are quite happy in most types of soil don’t regularly need any type of supplement when planted in the ground. If you can then planting them in loamy soil which is neutral to alkaline in pH is the optimal way. It also isn’t necessary to have successful plants.

Sunlight though is a big factor. Hops like lots of it for long as possible. This once again makes more open spaces the place for a hop. It’s not mandatory however. If the plant will at least get exposure for most of the morning or afternoon that will be enough light for a healthy plant. 6–8 hours a day is a good ballpark to aim for minimum exposure.

The one thing that is truly deadly for hops is getting water logged. If they’re either left in a boggy patch for too long or are exposed to a hard frost when overly wet you are likely to lose the plant. This is not to say extremely dry patches are good, they want to be kept moist like most garden plants.

I often get asked if someone can grow hops in their area. Often those further north who worry about the temperature, though everywhere has unique condition that’ll have some impact on how a plant grows. There’s very little need for worry though. Like I said at the start hops are strong, they will grow well all over the country and in fact can be found all over the world. Considerations need to be made with any plant. But unlike many plants, hops are a lot more driven when it comes to survival.

We sell a wide variety of hops in 9cm and 1L pots. Along with featured packs.

If you enjoyed this article please consider shopping with us.