Hops help

Hello all,

Has anyone got any experience of growing hops? I have found some plants scrambling through trees in a disused bit of my newly acquired garden. I have no idea of variety, but they seem to be thriving. I want to transplant them from the black hole of Calcutta to scramble over a shed. Can I do this and will they be happy growing over a solid roof rather than wires?

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner I transplanted one last year, it didn't die, but didn't do anything growth wise either.

I should think it will be ok on a shed, as long as its not got a tin roof, might be too hot for it.

Be carefull before using them for beer making, I ruined a 5 gallon brew using wild ones once, it was far too bitter.

 

Don't site them where you would brush bare skin against the stems or you could get 'hop rash' from them.

 

I've taken a pic of a stem showing the spines that can cause 'hop rash'

 

Hmm nasty little spines ! I am growing a miniature hop golden tassels - stunning leaf colour. Its in its first year and about 6 ft tall will I get hops in year one , when about do they crop ?

TIA

 

Thanks for the hints - I was going to move them to cover a lean to/pergola over a patio - but given the rash thing I think I'll leave them where they are.

 

Just noted the hops are forming from about the 8 th of august . When they form is there anything I can do with them ? Not beer making ! But I heard they are aromatic