I want to grow my own hops this year but have been struggling with making a decision on where to plant the rhizomes. My problem is the front of my house is ideal, it is south facing, however, I live in a development where the association would not find a hop trellis or hops growing up the side of the house acceptable. Therefore, I have been debating if I should try the side of my house (east facing) or the back (north facing).
The benefits of the side of my house are: early morning sun, good drainage, and shelter from wind. The issue is this may be too visible to neighbors who may complain and the sun shines on this spot for only half of the day.
The benefits of the back of the house are: mid-day to evening sun, good drainage, and well hidden from the front where neighbors may complain. The potential issue with the back of the house is it gets very windy sometimes because we have an open field behind our house.
I am looking for advice from hop growers on what is the better solution: some sun and no wind or adequate sun but occasional strong wind?
My hops are on a freestanding trellis that is 17 feet tall, and they’ve been hit by some pretty gnarly winds the last couple years. On two occasions, the line I was using snapped. Nylon twine, thin sisal, and cotton twine all snapped. Baling twine (sisal, for baling) holds up well and so far has held together for me.
Sounds like you better grow those puppies out back.
Screw the neighbors and grow them in the front yard. If you truly cannot do that then grow them at the back corners of the house, out a couple feet from the back of the house if you can help it so they’ll get maximum sun. They will probably only produce an ounce per each plant instead of up to a pound, but you should still get enough for a batch or two.
I would go with the backyard, as far out as you can to expose them to sun. Hope like lots of sun.
I built up a trellis for mine, running only about 12 feet tall, but I figure they’ll either put more effort into growing hops themselves when they can’t go more, or go sideways.
I used pressure treated wood and nylon twine. I don’t remember what type exactly I got, but it didn’t break when I put my weight on it. I figure that’ll handle anything mom nature can throw at it.
