permaculture

["Kate Halstead" <rockyprairie@earthlink.net>]

A bit more detail on hops. Don't grow male plants if you are looking to use
the hops. The female strobiles are the only part used in beer or for
medicinal purposes. With male plants around, the females set seed and render
the strobiles worthless. Also makes it nigh on impossible to get rid of them
once they spread seed. To make sure you have all-female plants either buy
roots from a reputable source or when starting from seed, rogue out the
males as soon as they make themselves apparent.

Hops are easy to contain within a finite area if you use some sort of
significant boundary device. I cut the bottoms out of a couple 10 gallon
buckets, sunk them in the ground, planted the hops inside and after 6 years
they still have not escaped the enforced boundary.

Height can be a problem. Traditional hop yards are 20-25' in height using
two-three strands of twine from each mound, attached to a tight wire mounted
from the tops of the poles. To harvest, cut the twine/plant off top and
bottom, bundle in an old sheet, and start harvesting the clumps of
strobiles. To dry I use a food dryer set on low. This seems to retain the
best flavor/color/active ingredients. I then store them in the freezer till
use.

Caveat from my husband: There is a phytoestrogen compound in hops that can
affect men (and some women) quite a bit. After a couple hours using bare
hands to harvest the first time, he found himself feeling like he'd been fed
a heavy dose of caffeine or other stimulant--racing heart, etc. Doesn't seem
to affect me that way though some women report it accelerates the start of
menses. 

If you are looking for another use for hops, they make an excellent shade
plant. My grandmother always had a plant on the hot sunny, south side of the
house. Covered it completely each summer, keeping the temp in those rooms at
a tolerable level.

Kate

-----Original Message-----
From: permaculture-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:permaculture-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Heide Ciplin
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 12:31 PM
To: permaculture
Subject: Re: [permaculture] Growing Hops

Hello,

I have had hops growing up an old hydro pole (no longer attached to
electricity) in very heavy clay soil. They are very vigourous climbers so a
very tall support is required. They spread aggressively and unless they are
grown in an area where they can be contained can become invasive. I have
found it  difficult to grow anything within a couple of metres of them
because of the young hop plants sprouting up everywhere. Both male and
female plants are required and of course, the hops are only produced on the
females. The main stems die back here in southwestern Ontario, Canada but
resprout again from the ground in the spring. I understand that borers are
sometimes a problem and powdery and downy mildew but haven't had any
problems in their so-far six year lifespan. Buying healthy plants free of
mildew in the first place is a good idea. They are a plant probably for
those who have uses for the hops because from an ornamental point of view,
they are non-native and don't have many  attractions even though the three
(or more) lobes add interest; however when the hops are ripening which they
seem to do in great profusion, it is quite a nice view.

Heide Ciplin


----- Original Message -----
From: "chauncey williams" <chaunceyfree@yahoo.com>
To: <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 11:25 AM
Subject: [permaculture] Growing Hops



I am looking into getting into growing organic hops.  Do any  of you have
anything you might be able to offer, characteristics of the  plant? good
companion plants? Uses within a permaculture design?   Thanks

  
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