Hops: plant profile, flowers, care & hardiness
Whether for making beer or tea, keeping hop plants healthy requires some care. Hops flowers are used in beer making, giving beers, especially ales, their distinctive taste.
Contents
Hops: origin and characteristics
The common hop (Humulus lupulus) is a perennial shrub that originally comes from the temperate latitudes of Central Europe. It belongs to the hemp family (Cannabaceae). Wild hops, i.e. the wild form of common hops, are found in nitrogen-rich and rather moist locations. Apart from wild hops, there are of course many other hops species and varieties. The cultivation of hops goes back a long way in history – evidence of their cultivation in Bavaria dates back to the Middle Ages and in Britain it was first planted around 1524 in Kent. Today, Germany’s Hallertau region is home to the largest hop-growing area in the world.
Each year, the hop plant sprouts anew from its thick rootstock or rhizome, forming new trailing stems, known as bines. The plant can live for up to 50 years. The cultivated form can grow up to 8m tall, while the wild form remains a little smaller with a final height of 6m. As a twining climbing plant, hops need a wire or similar to climb up. Hops leaves are lobed, heart-shaped or egg-shaped and very rough.
As dioecious plants, perennial hops have male and female plants. In cultivation, however, only female specimens are usually grown, as these produce the greenish hop flowers, i.e. the desired hop cones. These are not only cherished by us, but also provide a good food source for insects such as bees. Hops flower usually between June and September.
Hops plant care
Below we will explain what you need to consider when caring for hops in order to have a rich harvest of common hop flowers at home. Check out our other article to find out all about planting hops.
Watering and fertilising
With a single hop vine growing up to 10cm a day, it comes as no surprise that a hop plant usually needs a lot of water and fertiliser. The soil must be kept moist at all times. However, waterlogging must be avoided at all costs. Accordingly, a permeable soil is essential. When growing hops in pots, it is important the pots have a drainage hole and a drainage layer. As the hop vines grow longer, shorten the intervals between watering, making sure that the soil never dries out. In early summer, daily watering may be necessary if it is particularly dry.
Both in pots and beds hop plants need to be fertilised regularly with a balanced plant food. Compost, animal manure or a high-quality slow-release fertiliser can be worked into the soil and are perfect for feeding hops. For example, our primarily organic Plantura All Purpose Plant Food is an ideal plant food for hops. It not only provides the plant with the right nutrients, but also supports soil life. Nettle tea is also suitable for feeding hop plants.
- Perfect for a variety of plants in the garden & on the balcony
- Promotes healthy plant growth & an active soil life
- Long-lasting fertiliser that is free from animal products - child & pet friendly
Depending on how well your hop plant is growing in your garden soil, you can fertilise accordingly. Feeding hops in spring between March and April is always a good idea. This ensures the plant has sufficient nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Optionally, hops can be fertilised again in June or July to stimulate stronger growth. In September or October, fertiliser rich in potassium and phosphorus can be applied in preparation for the winter. Our Plantura Tomato Food, for example, is high in potassium and is therefore well suited for this type of fertilisation.
Tip: if you notice that there are many hop leaves growing on your plants during the course of the year, do not fertilise them in the summer. Too much nitrogen leads to too much leaf growth, which results in smaller hop flowers.
- Perfect for tomatoes, chillies, courgettes, cucumber & more
- For healthy plants & an abundant tomato harvest
- Long-lasting fertiliser that is free from animal products - child & pet friendly
Hops pruning
Pruning hops in the winter is not necessary, but nothing bad will happen if you do. The plant can be cut back completely. During growth in spring, it is necessary to tie the up to 8m long stems to a trellis and allow them to climb upwards. This is when to prune hops. Select the 3 to 4 strongest shoots and wrap them clockwise around the wire or trellis to ensure the plant can grow up to a height of 12m. Cut back the rest of the stems. However, if you leave all the stems on the plant, it will grow rather compact and broad – i.e. only up to 5m high. When pruning hops, cut back the stems close to the ground using a sharp and clean pair of secateurs to prevent bruising and disease.
Hops diseases and pests
Aphids often feel very much at home on hops. If you want to get rid of the rapidly growing population of small insects on your hop plants, you can of course use a pesticide. However, more environmentally friendly home remedies often prove to be just as effective for controlling pests when growing hops in your own garden. Watering infested plants with nettle tea or even some black tea can be enough to drive away the pesky sapsuckers. We recommend encouraging beneficial insects into your garden, such as ladybirds. Did you know that both the larvae and adult ladybirds eat all types of aphids? This makes seven-spot ladybirds a reliable remedy against aphids.
Hop plants are also very popular in the fungi kingdom: many varieties are frequently affected by powdery mildew. When choosing a variety to grow in your garden, make sure to select one that is resistant or moderately resistant to powdery mildew. Ensure adequate ventilation to prevent moisture build-up and choose a sunny location.
Are hops hardy?
Hops have a hardiness rating of H6 (-20 °C) and are therefore hardy in all of the UK and northern Europe. Since hops are perennial, every autumn the above-ground parts of the plants die back completely, preventing them from dying from frost. This is practical, as it gives the hops the chance to transfer valuable nutrients from the foliage to the underground rhizome. These valuable reserves provide the plant with enough strength to sprout again the following spring. Even a period of prolonged frost cannot usually harm the rhizome. However, hops in pots are more exposed to the elements. In this case, we recommend placing the entire pot in a frost-free location over winter or covering it with frost protection, such as horticultural fleece.
Are hops poisonous?
Hops are not poisonous to humans nor animals. In addition to the hop flowers, particularly young stems can also be used in salads and the like.
