Lesson 2 - Hop Biology and Cultivation
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This lesson deals with the biology, cultivation and breeding of hops, as well as the challenges faced by both breeders and growers when bringing hops to the market. We also take an in-depth look at hop varieties and their various classifications.
Hop Growing Cycle
To start a new hop garden, we would first need to consider several things.
First, the hop plants need to be propagated. This can be done by:
- Layering the old bines (part of the bine is buried so that it develops roots)
- Mist propagation (a mist of fine water droplets is maintained over cuttings stimulating root growth)
- Taking cuttings and planting
The type of hop also needs to be selected, such as:
- Aroma or bitter variety
- Traditional (grow up to 7 m) or dwarf variety (grow up to 2-3 m)
These decisions influence:
- What you require to grow the hops (tall trellises, or not?)
- Harvest time (different varieties mature at different rates)
As stated previously, hops are perennial, so let us take a look at a typical growing cycle in the Northern Hemisphere:
- In March, the hop fields are shallow ploughed. This reduces weeds, mulches in last year’s weeds and bines, and allows base fertiliser to be added.
- In early April, the first shoots begin to sprout and only two or three of the strongest shoots are trained onto the wire or twine support. Any extra shoots are removed.
- As climbing plants, they wind clockwise around the supporting wire. During the active growing period, hop plants can grow up to 30 cm in length per day!
- During the growth phase, the soil pH should be around 6.5 and it needs to be fertilised with nitrogen, phosphates and potassium.
- If used, irrigation is via overhead sprays or by drip feed.
- By mid-to-end July, the hops should have reached full height and the laterals should have begun to grow out.
- During this period, growers must inspect the plants for pests and/or disease, managing them accordingly.
- Hops are harvested between the end of August and late September. Tall hops are harvested by cutting the whole bine, including the string, and taking them to the hop picking machine. Dwarf hops are picked mechanically, where the hop and leaf are removed and fed into the same hop picking machine.
- Towards winter, as the days get even shorter, the parts of the plant above ground die, and the plants are pruned back.
- Nutrients are moved to the rootstock underground, so that the plant is ready to grow again in the spring. This period is known as dormancy.
Hop harvesting is a very hectic time for growers; all hops must be picked in a very short period and then dried, so that the picked cones don’t deteriorate.
Let us now explore the harvest and drying of hops in more detail.