HOPS AB
Humulus lupulus
Hops are a perennial plant traditionally used to flavor beer from their cones, but can also be used as an ornamental plant. Young shoots can also be eaten cooked like asparagus .
Hops are also known for their medicinal properties. A climbing vine that can reach 6 to 10 m in the year, with summer flowering, it is perfectly suited to covering a grid .
There will be male and female plants that will only be distinguished at flowering. The male plant is not useful if we only want to produce cones ( female flowers ), we only keep them if we are looking for the ornamental effect or if we want to have the seeds (which will form in the cones fertilized by the male flowers).
Successful hop sowing
It is necessary to stratify your hop seeds by leaving them in your refrigerator for a few weeks.
Then sow in a box of fine, moist seed compost from November to March . Cover the seeds with a little seed compost and then press down. Keep the compost moist until they sprout with a sprayer . Be careful not to soak the soil. Germination is long and quite difficult and can take from 15 days to 2 months .
Wait 3 to 4 weeks after germination to transplant into pots , 6 to 8 weeks to plant permanently.
Hop planting
Plant young hop plants in spring after the frost, in a sunny location, in rich, well-drained soil. Space the plants 1 m apart.
Hop harvest
The female flowers are harvested in September when the ears are still closed, before they open.
