Hop- one of the most versatile plants. On its basis, they make a world-famous alcoholic drink, which is actively used in medicine, cosmetology and cooking. But this is not the whole range of its application, because hops are also an ornamental garden plant, very cute and unpretentious. This vine is capable of creating excellent hedge in one season, while growing well in partial shade and resistant to all kinds of natural surprises.
Hop breeding methods there are several: hops are propagated by root shoots, cuttings and seeds. The simplest of them is the undergrowth, which appears in abundance in the spring. If you can't get it or a hop stalk, then you should try to grow the coveted liana from seeds. It is worth noting that one type of hop, Japanese hop, is annual plant and growing it from seeds is the most optimal way reproduction.
Hop seedlings are planted around April. For planting, choose a fertile soil, acquiring it in the garden center or mixing a share of garden land with equal shares of leaf and humus substrate. The seeds are buried in the ground by 0.5 cm. It is advisable to create greenhouse conditions for the seedlings by covering the containers with the planted seeds with film or glass. The temperature favorable for seed germination is 20 - 23 ° C.
Crops are watered and sprouts are expected to appear, which begin to appear a week after planting. From this period, the shelter from the containers is removed for a couple of hours a day, and when the first real leaf appears at the seedlings, it is removed completely. The entire period of development, seedlings must be kept in a well-lit place, avoiding direct sunlight.
When the seedlings reach a height of 4 - 5 cm, they must be dived, that is, planted in separate containers. Carefully, together with a lump of earth, the plants are transplanted into individual pots, in which they will grow until they are planted in a permanent place. It is very convenient to use peat pots for planting, in which plants are planted in an open priming... Their indisputable advantage lies in the fact that during the subsequent transplantation, the root system of the seedlings is not injured, and the plants adapt faster to new conditions.
Growing hops from seeds
Like most garden plants, hop seedlings are planted in open ground only after the establishment of stable warm weather. In the future, hops will endure frosty winters, but it is better to protect young plants from sub-zero temperature... The hop-growing area can be either sunny or semi-shaded. The soil prefers fertile, therefore, even before planting, it is advisable to add it to the soil. organic fertilizers: manure or compost.Planted seedlings must be watered regularly. Hops - moisture-loving plant, and with a lack of moisture, it will not look so impressive. In the first half of summer, this vine grows very quickly, and when the shoots reach a height of about half a meter, they need to be provided with support.
To achieve the greatest decorative effect of hops, it is necessary to use fertilizers. Top dressing is carried out mainly in the first half of summer, when the plant develops most actively. Hops are very responsive to foliar feeding, and therefore it is recommended to regularly sprinkle the leaves with a solution of zinc sulfate (0.02%) and a solution boric acid(0.05%). It is also recommended to feed with complex mineral fertilizers twice a month.
How to grow hops from seeds in the country
When autumn frosts come in the first year, it is recommended to cover the perennial hops with foliage or spruce branches to protect them from frost. Adult plants are frost-hardy enough and do not need such protection. With the onset of frost, the aboveground part of the plant dies off, and with the onset of spring, many young shoots begin to grow rapidly from the ground.It should be noted that in regions with more warm climate, it is practiced planting seeds directly in open ground. This procedure is carried out in May in the same way as when planting seedlings. In this case, the soil should be fine and as homogeneous as possible. It is recommended to add a little humus to it to increase the nutritional value and sand so that the substrate is well permeable to moisture.
Crops are also covered for the first time to protect against temperature extremes. When the seedlings grow a little, it must be thinned out, leaving only strong and healthy seedlings. Further transplantation should be carried out in such a way that the distance between the plants is about half a meter.
With the beginning of the season, more and more gardeners are wondering how to grow hops on personal plot? The reason lies in the fact that the cultivation of this plant does not require special knowledge from them. The plant is unpretentious in growing, and caring for it does not imply strict adherence to certain conditions.
Plant characteristic
Hops are a prominent representative of the Hemp family. There are 3 types of it:
- cordate;
- ordinary;
- Japanese.
This plant has annuals and perennial varieties, some of which are capable of growing in one place for up to 20 years. It has a twisted green or light red stem covered with fine hairs. In thickness, it reaches 15 mm, and the length reaches 10-12 m. It has a powerful root system, the bulk of the roots is in the upper layer of the soil.
Flowers are collected in inflorescences of 30-50 pcs and are formed only on female plants... Hop fruits are small brown nuts that ripen from mid-July to September. The seeds are also small and light: 1000 seeds weigh only 3-4 g. The leaves are heart-shaped, and in the middle part of the stem they are much larger. Their upper side is dark green, and the back is much lighter and has glands.
It is used in pharmacological, perfumery and cosmetic, bakery and medicine industries. It is used for decorating fences, arches, buildings, creating a hedge in the country. The most popular is common view hops, since planting, care and cultivation do not require special rules, outwardly it is more attractive and has a lot of useful properties.
How can you grow?
There are several ways to breed a crop in a personal plot:
- seeds;
- undergrowth;
- cuttings.
Gardeners' opinions on how to plant hops boil down to the fact that the easiest way is to use young shoots that appear in large quantities in the spring. If cuttings or shoots are difficult to get, then seeds can be used to obtain a plant.
In early April, you can start growing seedlings.
- Prepare the soil. It is purchased or prepared independently: you need to mix in equal proportions ordinary soil, humus and a substrate from leaves.
- Pour soil into a container and plant seeds 0.5-0.7 cm deep.
- Cover everything with glass (film) and put in a lighted place, but not in direct sunlight.
- Crops require periodic watering.
- When the first shoots germinate, the film (glass) can be removed for 2-3 hours.
- When leaves appear, the film is removed completely.
- When the height of the seedlings reaches 5 cm, it must be dived - planted in separate containers.
Growing seedlings is not a prerequisite for breeding hops. The seeds can be sown immediately into the soil prepared in the fall.
Landing rules
First, a place is selected on a personal plot or cottage. Hops are light-loving plants, so the planting site should be on the sunny side. The plant feels comfortable on soddy, weak to medium podzolic soil with good drainage. Wherein groundwater should not be near the surface.
In hops, the roots develop rapidly, grow strongly and can harm the plants growing nearby. Therefore, it is planted in a separate area.
To prevent the roots from growing and interfering with neighboring crops, limiters are used - slate or metal sheet buried to a depth of 0.5 m.
Hops do not thrive in windy areas. It is best to choose a location where the impact of gusts of wind will be minimal.
Planting hops in open ground is carried out in mid-spring, that is, when the strong night frosts have ended. The plant goes deep into small holes (up to 30-50 cm deep), located at a distance of half a meter from each other. Seedlings are planted in holes to a depth of 10 cm, covered with earth, tamped down and watered abundantly.
Many gardeners, in order to avoid the death of plant roots from night frosts, advise additionally covering the holes on top with hay.
Before planting, a support is mounted to the plant for its further growth. For these purposes, a fence is suitable, a wall of a house with a string stretched over them. The hop is decorative, and its lashes stretch up to 10 m, so the support can be launched in any direction (horizontally, diagonally).
Basic rules of care
Hop care includes timely shoot removal, watering, feeding, and pest control.
Removal of shoots, pinching
An important step in the care is the removal of shoots. When the sprouts grow to 15-20 cm, they are cut off. Up to 5 strong shoots are left on each bush. When they reach 50 cm, they are put on a support. Usually, 3 stems are started on one support.
Excess shoots should be removed as the culture grows. Do not forget that as hops grow, they oppress neighboring plants. So that the plot in the country does not turn into impassable thickets, the growth of hops should be constantly monitored.
Caring for the plant involves pinching - shortening the side shoots. This operation increases the yield of the cones.
Watering
Crop care involves frequent watering, since the plant is moisture-loving. But it is important to ensure that the water does not stagnate in the holes. Waterlogging negatively affects the condition of the roots. If the plant grows in dry climates, it is better to install an automatic watering system. Moderate constant soil moisture contributes to the growth of green mass, which provides decorative hops.
To avoid the appearance of downy mildew on the leaves, they cannot be wetted during watering.
Pest and disease control
Care also includes timely pest control. They rarely attack hop crops, but sometimes the following insects can be found:
- spider mite;
- wireworm;
- weevil;
The complex of measures for the destruction of pests includes spraying plants with appropriate preparations (solutions of "Kuprozan", polycarbacin), destruction of dead stems in autumn, digging up the earth between crop plantings. When spraying, it must be borne in mind that most of insects accumulate on the lower (back) side of the leaf.
Effective and in simple ways the destruction of pests are infusions of tobacco and wormwood, a weak soap solution.
If the leaves are brown or yellow spots, and their underside is covered with a white-gray bloom, then the hops are contaminated powdery mildew... This is the most common cultural disease. The damaged foliage breaks off, and the aboveground part is sprayed with a fungicide solution.
Further care of the plant includes weed control, loosening the soil, hilling bushes.
Plant care during dormancy
In the fall, after the foliage withers, all dried shoots are cut off from perennial hops. After trimming them, fertilizers are applied, and the uterus is covered from above with a layer of earth (at least 30-40 cm). Hop rhizomes easily endure winter, and resume growth with the onset of spring.
If the crop is annual, like Japanese hops, it is completely dug up and disposed of.
What to feed?
Fertilizers are used for feeding:
- organic (manure);
- nitrogen;
- phosphoric;
- potash.
The manure is applied 10-15 cm deep. It should be added in the fall so that it decomposes during the winter.
From nitrogenous fertilizers, it is recommended to use urea, ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate. Urea is applied before planting hops at the rate of 20 g of fertilizer per 1 m 2. Ammonium nitrate - 15 g per 1 m 2 of soil. If fertilized with ammonium sulfate, then its single dose should not exceed 30-35 g.
Potash fertilizers include potassium salt, potassium sulfate, and potassium chloride. For 1 m 2 of soil, 25-35 g of these fertilizers are added. Phosphoric and potash fertilizers are introduced when the plant reaches 4-5 m in height or after the end of flowering.
A deficiency of these fertilizers will slow down the growth of the plant and the maturation of its cones. But you should not overdo it with feeding: the increased content of trace elements reduces the disease resistance of the culture.
So, in order for hops to please the eye for more than one year, and its healing capabilities to maintain health, give strength, it is necessary to adhere to simple tips for growing and caring for him.
On its basis, they make a world-famous alcoholic drink, which is actively used in medicine, cosmetology and cooking. But this is not the whole range of its application, because hops are also an ornamental garden plant, very cute and unpretentious. This liana able to create an excellent hedge in one season, while growing well in partial shade and resistant to all kinds of natural surprises.
Hop breeding methods there are several: hops are propagated by root shoots, cuttings and seeds. The simplest of them is the undergrowth, which appears in abundance in the spring. If you can't get it or a hop stalk, then you should try to grow the coveted vine from seeds. It is worth noting that one type of hop, Japanese hop, is an annual plant and growing it from seeds is the most optimal way to reproduce.
Planted hop for seedlings around April. For planting, choose a fertile soil, acquiring it in the garden center or mixing a share of garden land with equal shares of leaf and humus substrate. The seeds are buried in the ground by 0.5 cm. It is advisable to create greenhouse conditions for the seedlings by covering the containers with the planted seeds with film or glass. The temperature favorable for seed germination is 20 - 23 ° C.
Crops are watered and sprouts are expected to appear, which begin to appear a week after planting. From this period, the shelter from the containers is removed for a couple of hours a day, and when the first real leaf appears at the seedlings, it is removed completely. The entire period of development, seedlings must be kept in a well-lit place, avoiding direct sunlight.
When the seedlings reach a height of 4 - 5 cm, they must be dived, that is, planted in separate containers. Carefully, together with a lump of earth, the plants are transplanted into individual pots, in which they will grow until they are planted in a permanent place. It is very convenient to use peat pots for planting, in which plants are planted in an open priming... Their indisputable advantage lies in the fact that during the subsequent transplantation, the root system of the seedlings is not injured, and the plants adapt faster to new conditions.
Like most garden plants, hop seedlings are planted outdoors only when the weather is stable. In the future, the hops will endure frosty winters, but it is better to protect young plants from freezing temperatures. The hop-growing area can be either sunny or semi-shaded. The soil prefers fertile, therefore, even before planting, it is advisable to add organic fertilizers to the soil: manure or compost.
Planted seedlings must be watered regularly. Hops are a moisture-loving plant, and with a lack of moisture, they will not look so impressive. In the first half of summer, this vine grows very quickly, and when the shoots reach a height of about half a meter, they need to be provided with support.
To achieve the greatest decorative effect of hops, it is necessary to use fertilizers. Top dressing is carried out mainly in the first half of summer, when the plant develops most actively. Hops are very responsive to foliar feeding, and therefore it is recommended to regularly sprinkle the leaves with a solution of zinc sulfate (0.02%) and a solution of boric acid (0.05%). It is also recommended to feed with complex mineral fertilizers twice a month.
When autumn frosts come in the first year, it is recommended to cover the perennial hops with foliage or spruce branches to protect them from frost. Adult plants are frost-hardy enough and do not need such protection. With the onset of frost, the aboveground part of the plant dies off, and with the onset of spring, many young shoots begin to grow rapidly from the ground.
It should be noted that in regions with more warm climate, it is practiced planting seeds directly in open ground. This procedure is carried out in May in the same way as when planting seedlings. In this case, the soil should be fine and as homogeneous as possible. It is recommended to add a little humus to it to increase the nutritional value and sand so that the substrate is well permeable to moisture.
Crops are also covered for the first time to protect against temperature extremes. When the seedlings grow a little, it must be thinned out, leaving only strong and healthy seedlings. Further transplantation should be carried out in such a way that the distance between the plants is about half a meter.
Hop- one of best options fast vertical gardening. This plant can grow to a height of 6 m in a season, and its fruits in the form of small green cones look great against the background of a thick curtain of carved leaves.
Its growth in the first half of summer is so rapid that hops are one of the first to braid the supports, far ahead of such decorative vines as girlish grapes, lemongrass, honeysuckle honeysuckle. The daily gain is several centimeters.
Hop stems are sensitive to direction of growth. In the vertical position, they quickly climb the supports, in the horizontal position, the growth rate is significantly reduced. To grow a solid green wall, plants are planted at intervals of 1.5-2 meters.
Knowing this feature, you can quickly decorate even the most inconspicuous garden buildings... For example, a fence entwined with hops from a coarse-mesh netting turns into a dense hedge in the second half of June, and a frame made of metal pipes becomes an openwork gazebo, as soon as the shoots close on its top. An adult, well-developed hop specimen forms a dense interlacing of stems and leaves by mid-summer.
This must be taken into account if you plan to plant a plant near open veranda, porch or gazebo. It creates a continuous shadow, and semi-darkness will constantly reign under the "green tent". However, plant the vine at a distance of 1.5 meters from the windows, or simply cut off some of the leaves blocking the sunlight, and the problem will be solved.
True, at the end of summer another appears: the lower leaves turn yellow and fall off. To decorate the bases of bare stems, astilbe, ferns, peonies and other plants are planted near the vines, the foliage of which remains decorative throughout the summer.
Hops are easy to multiply. Rhizomes, especially on light fertile soils, give numerous offspring. They can be planted in spring or fall. True, the rhizomes of the plant, although soft, are very fibrous. It is difficult to cut them with a shovel; you have to resort to using a knife or secateurs. Propagation by seeds or cuttings is also possible, but these methods are more laborious and are used mainly in nurseries to obtain a large number planting material.
Hop care is simple. In the spring, as soon as the shoots reach a height of 40-50 cm, they need to be supported. The stems, covered with numerous sharp spines, are easily entwined and thick metal pipes, and thin nylon ropes. And on our skin, they can leave painful scratches, so it is better to work with a vine in gloves and long-sleeved clothes.
At the beginning of summer, when the aboveground part of the plant develops especially intensively, hops need abundant watering and feeding complex mineral fertilizer... Fertilizers can be applied directly to the soil or foliar feeding - for this, the fertilizer is diluted in half concentration and watered or sprayed on the leaves and stems.
Method foliar feeding especially relevant if the lack of batteries affects appearance plants: with nitrogen starvation, the leaves become small, light-colored, if there is not enough potassium, they acquire a convex (boat-shaped) shape, the bronze color of the leaves indicates a lack of phosphorus.
One of the main problems with hops in hot, dry summers is aphids. They not only weaken the plant - if a gazebo is entwined with hops, then with every gust of wind these unpleasant insects will fall on those who sit there. In order to prevent the reproduction of aphids, in the first half of summer you need to treat the plants with any insecticides. If the insects have already multiplied, then only strong insecticidal preparations will help get rid of them. When spraying, it should be borne in mind that aphids prefer to accumulate on the underside of the leaves.
Hops are a very unpretentious plant and resistant to climatic conditions.
Gardeners, as well as potential brewers, will be interested in learning how to grow this plant in the country and what the collection of hop cones is.
In addition to correct fit you also need to know how and when to harvest the hops and how to store the hops.
1 Planting and care: basic nuances
Anyone who wants to grow hops first needs to decide on the purpose of planting it, and then choose the optimal type for themselves.
Hops belong to the Hemp family and are perennial climbing plant with rough foliage. In length it can reach from 3 to 12 meters. Able to reproduce by cuttings (taken from plants from 3 years old) and rhizomes. Seed propagation of hops is a more labor intensive process that breeders usually use to create new species.
Two types of inflorescences are formed on the stems - male and female. The first ones are complex, with curls and small inconspicuous flowers at the ends. They are of no value or interest to brewers.
In turn, the female inflorescences are pineal, and they are what we know as “hop cones”. They bloom in the middle of summer, and ripening occurs in the period from late August to early September.
Sometimes they have the opportunity to ripen only in the fall, but you should not rush to collect hop cones: ripeness will directly affect the quality.
A few downsides to hops as plants:
- grows rapidly;
- is able to braid nearby shrubs and trees, negatively affecting the conditions for their growth;
- with the wrong landing site and improper care, it is a potential breeding ground for harmful organisms and infections;
- "Eats" from the ground all the nutrients and trace elements, as a result of which careful care will be needed not only for the hop itself, but also for the soil;
- It takes root extremely quickly and adapts to the conditions (if the hops have already grown fairly throughout the territory, and you want to remove it, it will take a lot of time, since the young shoots will continue to grow).
- if you want to grow hops on the balcony, you must take into account its powerful root system; growing from seeds is ineffective, so you should purchase hop rhizomes and take care of the pot or box as deep as possible.
If these disadvantages scare you off, but you want a decorative vine on your site, then the best choice for you there will be Japanese hops. There are no inflorescences on it, and the care that is required for it is the most minimal. It is only necessary to find a place in which it will not compete for territory with other plants. You can enjoy blooming in spring. Japanese hops are great garden view plants.
1.1 Planting process
So, you've decided to join the ranks of future brewers. What should be done and in what order?
- Selection and purchase of rhizomes.
Many gardeners complain that it is not so easy to grow hops from seeds. therefore the best option will buy hop rhizomes according to the outlet beer you are interested in.
After purchase, care should be taken to ensure that the rhizomes receive required amount moisture. Until the time of transplantation, it is best to store them in refrigerator compartment, gently covering with rags, gauze or paper towels slightly dampened in water.
- Choosing a landing site.
Growing hops requires a lot of sunlight, therefore it is necessary to choose an area where the direct rays are directed for at least 6 hours a day.
In addition, you need to take into account the vertical height of the site and create a support to support the plant. It can be the lattice leading to the roof of the house.
The soil should not accumulate in itself excess water... Therefore, the selected site must be thoroughly drained.
- Preparing for landing.
The plot of land must be carefully loosened and cleaned of debris so that there are no lumps of earth, weeds, sticks and stones left. After that, the soil should be fertilized with special mixtures, manure, mullein, droppings, phosphorite flour or others. available options to a depth of approximately 30 centimeters.
- Planting rhizomes.
A small mound is made for each individual rhizome. The distance between embankments must be at least 1 meter. Further, holes should be dug in them, 10-15 centimeters deep, into which rhizomes should be planted. They should be laid horizontally and mulched to improve growth. When planting future plants, you need to immediately moisten the earth and be sure to continue to moisten it regularly.
Planting hops is not at all difficult if you approach the matter carefully and in detail.
1.2 Plant care
After the hops will appear from the ground and reach a height of 10-15 centimeters, it is necessary to constantly look after and care for the plant:
- prevent the shoots from growing in different directions (adjust the direction of their growth with a support, around which you gently wrap the shoots)
- remove weak or damaged processes
- cut leaves from the lower shoots to a height of 1 meter
- weed the ground
- water the seedlings regularly
- use insecticides to protect against insects and various infections
Growing hops are unpretentious and require the most basic conditions for ripening and reproduction. With proper care, you should expect your first harvest in late summer or autumn.
1.3 What is hops and "what is it eaten with" (video)
2 Collecting cones and drying hops
At the end of August, when cones have already appeared on the stems, you should carefully examine them and determine their maturity. Ripe hop cones are not heavy and dry. Having broken one inflorescence, a yellowish substance can be seen in the middle.
If the hop cones are greenish - do not rush to collect them, let them ripen. The combination of color and weight is the determining factor in the maturity of a plant.
It happens that you can only harvest your first harvest in the fall. However, it will be really high quality.
How do I harvest the grown hops? Ripe hop cones must be carefully unscrewed from the stem. Next, you should properly dry the inflorescences:
- put the cones on a flat surface and place it in the shade
- to remove moisture in the buds, you can direct a fan at them for a couple of hours, turning the inflorescences
- alternatively, the flowers can be wrapped in paper and stored in a dry, dark place
After harvesting and drying, you need to store your crop in a sealed package in the refrigerator. If necessary, the option of freezing the product is possible.
2.1 Post-harvest care
After you have collected the buds, shorten the branches to 1 meter. In winter, the plant does not bloom and must be protected from harsh weather conditions.
Dry shoots should be removed, leaving a couple of centimeters of the stem above the ground. You can add fertilizer to the soil and cover the plants with a tarp to keep warm.
2.2 How and when should hops be transplanted?
The optimal time to transplant hops is late fall (after harvest). Another option is to re-plant in the spring.
When planting and transplanting, the plants are carefully dug up, the healthiest roots are selected and planted at a distance of 1 meter from one to the other. When spring planting rhizomes are best stored in plastic bag with fertilized soil and sawdust in a cool place, without access to light.
In terms of adapting to a new place, there will be no problems with hops. The transplanted sprout will soon begin to develop actively. If it is necessary to propagate hops, it will be most convenient to do this by taking a stalk or rhizome, since working with seeds requires special scrupulousness and is used mainly for crossing plant varieties with each other.