Grow Hops in Containers: Easy Guide to a Perfect Hop Harvest

Learning how to grow hops in containers isn’t as difficult as many believe! If you’re an avid beer drinker or home brewer, growing or drying hops can be a rewarding experience. Hop plants provide flavor, bitterness, and aroma to beer, and growing them in containers is an excellent option for those with limited space.

This article contains a comprehensive guide on growing hops and different ways for those who want to control the environment where their hops grow, ensuring their beer’s best quality and flavor.

How To Grow Flavorful Hops in Containers?

To grow flavorful hops in containers, you should choose the right container size, prepare the soil, time the planting, take care of the plants, and offer them support. Hops require full sun to thrive and a large container with an appropriate depth. The container should also have good drainage.

1. Choosing the Right Container and Location

When choosing a container for growing hops, getting one large enough is essential to allow ample space for root growth. Usually, it is suggested that you should use a large container for growing this plant as its roots are widespread, and it can develop a couple of good roots inside a large container.

However, the size of a container solely depends on the kind of hop plants you’re trying to grow. Still, generally, a container with a diameter of at least 20 inches and a depth of at least 18 inches is recommended. If you plan to grow multiple hops inside a single container, you need to choose an enormous container to avoid overlapping hop rhizomes by having adequate space between each plant.

Choosing the material of the container is tricky, as you need to be careful while doing this step because a wrong container can ruin your harvest. You must have a container of durable materials such as plastic, ceramic, or wood, but ensure the container has suitable drainage holes.

The location of the container is also important. Hops require total sun exposure for at least 6-8 hours per day, so choose a place with plenty of sunlight. The location should also be sheltered from strong winds, as hops have fragile stems that can break easily.

2. Preparing the Soil

To prepare the soil for gardening hops indoors, you should mix up different grounds according to the requirements. Hops require well-drained soil rich in organic matter and nutrients, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. By creating a mixture, you can customize the soil composition to meet the specific needs of your hop plants.

For example, you can mix garden soil with compost or well-rotted manure to provide the plant with nutrients and organic matter. Putting perlite, vermiculite, or sand in the soil mixture can improve drainage and prevent soil compaction, which can cause root rot and other issues. You can also add lime or sulfur to adjust the soil pH level.

Overall, creating a mixture of soils allows you to provide the best possible growing environment to harvest hops plants and can help to promote healthy growth and maximum yield.

3. Planting Hops

After preparing the soil, the next step in planting hops in containers is to select healthy hops rhizomes (the underground stems of the plant) and plant them in the ground.

Select a healthy hop rhizome at least 3-4 inches long with several healthy buds (known as “eyes”). Prepare the container by filling it with the soil mixture you have created, leaving a few inches of space at the top. Make a small soil hole about 2-3 inches deep and place the hop rhizome in the hole with the buds facing up. Cover the rhizome with soil, making sure to leave the buds exposed.

Now water the soil properly to help settle the soil around the rhizome and place the container in a sunny location with good air circulation. As the hop plant grows, provide support for the vines to climb. A trellis or other support system can help the vines grow upward. Water the plant regularly, being careful not to overwater or underwater.

Following these steps, you can plant hops in containers and enjoy a bountiful harvest. With proper care and attention, hop plants can grow well in containers and produce a large yield of fragrant cones.

4. Supporting the Hops

Hops grow upward and require support to prevent them from falling over. Several ways to support the hops in a container include using stakes, trellises, or a rope system. Pick a method that works best for your container and the available space.

As the hops grow, train them to develop upward by gently tying them to the support system (e.g., tying them to a bamboo stick). This will help prevent them from growing sideways and make harvesting easier.

5. Managing Pests

Like any other plant, hops are susceptible to pests. Some common pests affecting hops include aphids and Japanese beetles. To prevent infestations, monitoring your plants regularly and taking action at the first sign of an issue is essential.

Other common pests that can cause damage to hop plants by sucking sap from the leaves and cones are spider mites. To mitigate spider mites, it’s crucial to provide proper air circulation and to avoid over-watering the plants. Potato leafhoppers can also cause damage to hop cultivations.

You can either opt for chemical treatments to get rid of these pests, or introduce natural predators such as predatory mites, parasitoid wasps, ladybird beetles, syrphid flies, and spiders. If using chemical treatments for your hop plantation, make sure to choose those that don’t harm beneficial insects.

Regular plant inspection and removal of any affected plant components are essential for reducing aphid populations. Another option for preventing aphids is to use insecticidal soap or neem oil.

6. Preventing/Treating Diseases

There is no treatment for a viral disease that causes mottling, yellowing, and distortion of the leaves and cones, which ultimately reduces the plant’s yield. Unfortunately, infected plants must be detached and destroyed to prevent the spread of the disease. It’s crucial to adopt preventative measures to avoid this virus, such as planting virus-free hop plants and using virus-free planting material.

Moreover, there are several diseases that you may come across when growing hops from seed in containers. Some common diseases and pests that can infect hop plants include downy mildew, powdery mildew, verticillium wilt, and mosaic virus. Fungal diseases that cause yellowing of leaves and stunted growth can be mitigated by providing adequate air circulation and avoiding watering the plant leaves.

A fungal disease that can cause a white powdery layer covering the leaves and cones of the hop plant can be treated by maintaining proper air circulation, avoiding overcrowding of the plants, and removing infected plant parts. Fungicides can also be used to resist and control the disease. A fungal disease that can cause wilting of leaves and stunted growth can be mitigated by removing infected plant parts and avoiding over-watering the plants.

Generally, preventing and mitigating disease and pest problems requires good cultural practices such as proper soil preparation, adequate air circulation, and regular inspections. Organic pest and disease control methods can also help promote healthy growth and maximum yield.

7. Harvesting and Using Hops

Hops are typically ready to harvest in late summer or early fall when the cones are whole and papery to the touch. When harvesting hops, gently pick them off the vine and remove the cones from the stems.

Until you’re ready to use them, keep the dried hops in an airtight container in a cool, dark location. You can use the hops in various ways, adding them to beer recipes or flavoring foods such as stews, soups, and even ice cream.

For growing hops for profit, consider factors like the market demand for different hop varieties, optimal planting and harvesting times, and the necessary equipment and infrastructure for commercial-scale hop production.

FAQs

– What Are Some Tips for Winterizing Hops in Containers?

Some tips for winterizing hops in containers include cutting the plant back after the first frost, covering the container with frost cloth, and watering it occasionally throughout the winter. You can also put straw over the plant to protect it from the cold.

– Is Growing Hops in 5 Gallon Bucket Possible?

Yes, growing hops in a 5-gallon bucket is possible. Support the vines to allow them to climb with a trellis or stake. Use well-draining soil and water regularly, being careful not to overwater or underwater. Hops need lots of sunlight, so put the bucket in a sunny, breezy spot.

Conclusion

Hops can be challenging to cultivate in pots, but with a basic understanding of container gardening, you can raise robust plants that will produce an abundant crop of cones. Now that you’ve gone through the details, here is a brief overview of the article above:

• Gardening hops in containers is an excellent option for small-scale hop production or those with limited space.
• With suitable soil, support, and growing conditions, you can successfully grow hops in various container sizes.
• Make sure to offer proper support to hop vines. Installing trellises or stakes can help hops develop properly.
• Whether gardening hops are for personal use or profit, careful planning, maintenance, and attention to disease and pest management can help you achieve a bountiful harvest.

So, finally, you know the secret to a perfect hop cultivation in your backyard. Brew some fresh beer out of it, and remember to call your friends for a good freshly-brewed beer session.