It’s January, 2010, and our rhizomes will reach their one year mark in May. The idea was great – organic hops grown right here in New Jersey. But it was late in the season. It would be difficult, but we would try. And that we did. We purchased the rhizomes, 260 of them, 7 different varieties. We needed a support system. Cedar Posts. Fortunately we were able to barter with neighbors. Then we started digging. And then we hit the shale. After many hours of back-breaking work, 3-foot holes were dug. 15 foot cedar poles were placed and secured. Wires were run. Holes were dug for the rhizomes. Fertilized with organic bone meal, covered with straw. Hop plants didn’t give us a chance to finish securing twine. Then life took over…and the hops took over the field…and we missed our harvest opportunity. We were able to get a good amount of Cascade (which are vacuum-sealed, sitting patiently in our freezer, any takers?), but for the varieties that needed special attention, they came and went.
Now it’s the end of January, and we are about to start it all up again, promising this time, to get the most out of our hard work. So it begins:
-Visit the field and see what the winter season has brought
-Secure wires that have come loose
-Purchase twine that will withhold the elements and weight of the plants
-Once the weather breaks, plow and fertilize (organically of course)
-Check drip irrigation system, make any repairs
-Hang up the twine and secure
-Continue with weeding, and fertilizing
-Watch the hops grow!
Now that we have experienced all of this, we know what to expect and cannot wait to see the fruits of our labor.
any experience from which you learn is a good experience. If I remember right, the second year that we had our plants (all three of them) they went crazy, tons of shoots which I had to thin out and they grew like you wouldn’t believe.
You should have brewed up a batch or two of home brew with some of those Cascade. Nothing like the smell of fresh hops.