Aspects of Art and Science More things for your neighbors to talk about

Transcription

1 Growing Hops

2 Why grow hops in NC? Fun For the backyard but commercially??? Use in your own beer fresh or dried Great aroma and flavoring Aspects of Art and Science More things for your neighbors to talk about

3 Varieties to Grow Raleigh Cascade, Chinook and Zeus grew well Centennial, Sterling, Mt. Hood, Williamette & Northern Brewer did not Asheville Area Cascade, Galena and Zeus grew well Charlotte Cascade is the big winner

4 Basic Requirements Lots of space Soil Remove clay Light soil ph range Free Soil Analysis NC Dept. of Ag. Lots of Sun Southern exposure if possible Good Drainage Good Circulation Avoid Windy Areas

5 Planting Build a mound of soil and mulch surface 2 rhizomes per hill Plant similar ones 3 ft. apart Different ones at least 5 ft. apart Rhizomes in ground horizontal or angled

6 Hop Mound

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8 Watering Frequent short waterings initially Helps establish root system After first year, less frequent, deep watering Encourages deep route structure t Drought tolerance Drip irrigation works well Water at base of plants

9 Stringing Strong Support System Trellis House Fence Porch Use what s available to you

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12 Porch Trellis

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15 Stringing Coarse twine bines grow clockwise Vertical, horizontal both OK At one foot start to wrap the 2 3 strongest looking bines Trim back others Careful when trimming to avoid ripping bines

16 Stringing Prune lower level leaves When bines reach 2 4 feet in height Maintain bines on string Constant work in tandem with weeding Watch cold and windy days bines snap or kink

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20 Growth Stages Hop blossoms look like sand burrs Take on cone characteristics as they grow Cones eventually range from 1 2i inches long ½ to 1 inch in diameter Sidearms lead to more growth

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23 Growth Stages Future years earliest shoots pruned Leads to hardy 2 nd growth Greater yield Commercial growers work this way Concentrate t on lead shoots and continue to prune up and comers Bines grow literally like crazy up to a foot per day and feet total

24 Fertilizer/Nutrients in NC Hops require large amounts of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium NC Dept. of Horticulture recommends a mixture Early Spring and early Summer split applications Miracle Grow works too!

25 Root Pruning Done in Spring after 1 st year s growth After shoots are 6 inches tall.. Cut back roots to a 1-foot square around the crown/hill Pull up outer roots and throw away Or replant rhizomes if you see both roots and sprouts on them

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27 Harvesting Bines grow until mid-july Cones at top mature faster because of sun Various maturity rates so several pickings When are cones ready to be picked: Green slightly damp and softness to it. Stays compressed when squeezed Peak crush cone and smell great aroma from lupulin big yellow glands Papery and light, will expand after being squeezed

28 Harvesting May be lighter in color Some browning of bracts may occur If harvesting at same time just cut bine down When done cut back shoots to ground and bury with soil and manure

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32 Drying Hops are 70 80% moisture when ripe Dried average 10% (8 15%) Food dehydrator Hop dryer Well vented oven Air dried Window screen, cool room, no sunlight Dry when strigs (inner stems) are brittle & break versus bend

33 Storage Just like any commercial hop Air tight, freezer/fridge, dark Ensure completely dry If not moisture in bag will cause oxidation Use right away as Fresh Hop Ale!

34 Diseases Downy Mildew stunted shoots, pale green to yellow leaves or spikes with black spores Occurs with moisture keep area trimmed/pruned and avoid over watering Powdery Mildew disease that literally killed off East Coast hop growing Fuzzy mold on both sides of leaves Baking soda spray 1Tbs baking soda/1 gal H20

35 Downy Mildew

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38 Pests Hop aphids pale green bug Easily seen sucks juice out of plant can destroy hop yard Appear in cool weather; spread quickly Spider Mites hot, dry weather tough to see but white webs under leaves freckles on leaves and red/rust on cones

39 Pests Spider mites Start at top of vine like sunlight Japanese Beetles huge nuisance Like rose bushes so keep hops away Treat all 3 bugs with soap spray 1 tsp non-detergent soap with 1 qt. water Ladybugs are your friends Plant cilantro/coriander between hop pplants

40 Estimating Hop Bitterness Educated guess from commercial hops Over time hops seem to meet average Homegrown hops may be up to 50% higher in Alpha Acids due to less handling Ratiometric Titration Fancy way of saying testing 2 hop teas Appalachian Statet AB Tech AA% analysis; $35

41 Brewing with Homegrown Hops Fresh or Dry Alpha Acids/Bitterness unknown Use for flavor and aroma additions in boil Dry hopping Don t substitute homegrown hops for commercial in a recipe

42 Brewing with Fresh Hops Avoid bittering additions At 80% moisture you d need a ton; plus AA? Stay with flavor, aroma or dry hopping Great fresh taste and aroma Grassy, citrus, fresh cut hay Spicy-sweet notes Can be pungent Again don t substitute fresh hops for kilned

43 Fresh Hop Brew Use hops as soon after harvest as possible Preserves more natural resins & aromatic oils Bittering - commercial hops w/ known AA% Flavor & Aroma wet/fresh hops I just wing it 3 oz. up to 12 oz. per batch

44 Fresh Hop Brew Brewing software take moisture content into account long term growth, assume average AA% NC Hops fall into line with Hop Union AA% s Sierra Nevada brewer Use as many as you can in the boil Squeeze, press, beat the hops for everything they have

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48 Questions

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50 Resources Hops in the Backyard: From Planting to Harvest and the Hazards in Between - By Stephanie Montell BrewingTechniques' May/June Zymurgy In the Back Yard A gardener s guide to homegrown hops By Patrick D'Luzansky NC Dept. of Agriculture/Horticulture Homebrewer s Garden Joe Fisher and Dennis Fisher Brew Your Own Magazine