High Hops Brew Shop
and Hop Farm

Family Owned and Operated

  FAQ and Links

Here, you can find a Question and Answer list. These are our most commonly asked questions and here we give a broad answer to some of them. We are working on making this list better, so if this does not answer your questions give us an email. At the bottom of the page is a list of our favorite links. They all have some really good information.

FAQ

Q: Why plants, and not rhizomes?
A: Plants will give you a better first year. Rhizomes require many rhizomes planted per mound, while plants only require one. Most gardeners are more familiar with planting a plant than planting rhizomes, because rhizomes can be difficult to plant at times.
 
Q: What variety grows best?
A: This is a loaded question. To start off I suggest growing what you brew with. From my experience all of our varieties will produce in most of the continental U.S.A. With that being said some grow better than others. We have found that these varieties grow with the most vigor; Cascade, Chinook, Zeus, Centennial, Galena, Glacier, Nugget, and Newport.
 
Q: What variety yields the best?
A: The answer to this is very similar to what grows the best. All will produce for you in most climates and regions. The same varieties that grow best yield the most. To get a better understanding to different varieties weaknesses check out this link http://thehennings.com/beer/hops.html
 
Q: What type of soil do hops like the best?
A: Hops will grow in almost anything. They are hardy plants. With that being said optimal conditions hops will thrive. The optimal soil conditions for hops are a sandy loam, with slightly acidic soil.
 
Q: How do I fertilize the plants?
A: Hops do well with a slow release fertilizer. We use Cow manure and Fish emulsion. They do not like a ton of Nitrogen, so a lot of your house hold fertilizers will contain to much Nitrogen. Be careful when Fertilizing with manure. When you first get the plants do not plant in only manure this will burn and possibly kill your plant. I suggest not even fertilizing your plant when you first get it except with some root stimulator. Let the plant get established for a couple weeks before feeding it with fertilizer.
 
Q: How far apart should I space plants?
A: Here at our farm we space the plants of the same variety 3 ft apart. Different varieties will need to be spread apart at least 5ft apart.
 
Q: I have had my plant in the ground for a couple weeks now and it has not grown at all, is it okay?
A: Yes the plant is fine. Most likely it is developing a strong root system. It could have also gone through a lot of stress in shipping and is now just collecting itself. Do not worry, and let the plant be a plant.
 
Q: What can my hop climb on?
A: To trellis hops is fairly easy. They need something ruff to climb on. A twine called coir works best. Metal they do not cling to because of the smooth surface. The hops have what I can best describe as a Velcro like surface on their bine and will grab a hold of anything ruff including your shirt or skin. The thing to remember I that they will need help at first. You will need to train them the first few weeks. This is done by wrapping them around whatever it is you having them climb on.
 
 

Links

Great American Beer Festival   www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/

Gnarly Barley Beer Festival  www.gnarlybarleybrewfest.com

LD Carlson  www.ldcarlson.com

Brew Craft  www.brewcraft.net

Growing Hops Yourself http://www.growinghopsyourself.com

United States Department of Agriculture http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

Craft Beer http://www.craftbeer.com

American Homebrewer's Association (AHA) http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/

Colorado Department of Agriculture http://www.colorado.gov/ag

Blichmann Engineering http://www.blichmannengineering.com