Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Growing Hops

I am in the South and it is hot, but I have learned how to get hops to grow in a hot climate. My second year's growth is coming to life and taking off. I was looking into growing the hops hydroponicly, but the cost of the chemicals caused me not to. I brew my own beer, in fact I am obcessed with it, but I wanted to grow hops for the rhyzomes, not just the hops. I was thinking that if I could grow them hydroponically and keep the bines (vines) trimmed back some I could stimulate root growth. One rhyzome sells for $5. This is just a 4" piece of root! I enterviewed the man who owns the Thyme garden last year for BrewCrAzY about the organic hops they sell (that is where I got mine). In 4 weeks he sold $45,000 in hops! If you grow them Aquaponically the root would be easy to harvest without causing any damage. I must clip a few rhyzomes and see how they grow.

This Aquaponics has totally consumed my brain!
It seems to be bringing everything I want to do together!

Hi Johnnymax,

If you want some advice on home growing hops have a look at http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/ and do a search for plantation(s). A lot of brewers in Aus do grow their own hops, whether it's out of interest or for their own personal use. The best method we have found of propogating them is by taking cuttings (of the vine) and using rooting hormones and keeping the cutting wet until roots and leaves develop. They are then put into the garden.

I'm not aware of anybody trying it in an aquaponics situation, but it should be alright. The only thing that would worry me is root rot during the dormant months (winter), perhaps if the rhyzomes that develop are removed and stored in the crisper section of a fridge during these months and replanted again when the time is right it may solve that issue (if it really is an issue).

Himzo.

$5 a root! That could be a great market.

That is what I was thinking. When they go dorment, take them out, cut them into 4" sections and put them in the freezer. The reason I say freezer, it because they freeze up north where they grow the best, but the refrigerator should work fine too. Then go ahead and have them for sale.

And YES! $5 is a great market, just do a search for places that sell them, I got mine from the Thyme Garden, but you can get them from www.freshhops.com (not sure if that link is right). But, you have a hard time getting them in the winter.

Hey Johnnymax, I am in the same situation as you and wonder if you frequent the same beer forum I do? I've been hanging around http://www.homebrewtalk.com talking with my brew buddies and just had to grow hops aquaponically this year. I have been into aquaponics for years and have never had the opportunity to do them, up until now that is. I always thought before, that you couldn't do hops aqua/hydroponically due to their not liking "wet feet." I was curious, as to how many of you hang out in the HBT forum as well so I can get more acquainted. I feel so lucky to have two active forums now for what I like to do. I also wonder

Well, I hang out at:
www.BeerTribe.com/forum
The Beer Tribe is actually a registered AHA Global Homebrew Club.

I think I am a member of Homebrew Talk, but have not been there in a while.

I'll have to check that out. We are doing a BJCP event so I guess we are finally moving up. Nice to meet another Johnny as well ! Now I can't wait to get more hop info.

Axl visits a few of them too, can't recall the names

Hey Johnnymax, since I'm growing hydroponically (only aquaponically) I wanted to share my little system this year. I only have two hop plants growing in the tubes for an experiment (Magnum and Zeus), and two more in the ground (Cascade and Mt.Hood). Can't wait to hear more about your grow season.




Excitement, I really hope the hops take off. I have very little water flow through the grow-tubes, so I had to add another biological filter unit. Whatcha think? It is just a bottom slitted bucket filled with gravel. The pump is placed through the lid, and the lid locked shut. I added a Venturi device to the end of the pump exit for aeration.


Here she is underwater working.


Please keep us informed on your hops Johnnymax, and happy growing and brewing to you!

You reckon you have little flow through them pipes now, wait until the plants get bigger - you'll get zero flow. I did a very similar thing for my first system.

I read a lot of your post and know the probable outcome of this year for the tomato grow, lol. Wow you have some pages to get through on your thread, but I found it very informative so far. I'm still trying to get more pump power and I know the roots will dam up the tubes, I just kinda want to see how much. Next year I have plans for my larger rooted veggies. This year I am just getting my feel wet. I hope I have hop root problems this year!

Still reading your thread Outbackozzie,

Well, the two hops I am trying to grow in my system haven't raised their heads yet, but the two I planted in ground are going to make it I think. I have 3 bines from my cascade popping up and hope to have Mt. Hood next. I really wish the Zeus and Magnum had done well in the system. They still may, it will just take time to see. Anyways, we have been talking in the beer forums about cloning hops. They say they've had luck replanting cuttings they took from first bines. They rooted and were replanted, and still thrive. I am looking forward to trying some Cascade cuttings for sure in the system. Has anyone else tried this with hops or other viney plants that make rhizomes? I'm also wondering about ivys and such. Oh well, guess we will see on the hops. If it works, then what a possible business venture I have planned in the future.

I am so surprised! I went out today to cut bines for my AP system to start rooting and I have Mt. Hood popping its head up above the soil now! I went ahead and took the Cascade cuttings and planted them in temporary rooting cups inside the tank so they have plenty of fresh aerated water. I will post some pics later when I add to my write-up. I'm just excited to finally have aquaponic hops, lol. Even if it is one day old, I want to fist pump! I am blown away by the growth of just one day for the cuttings I was taking. Anyways, just wanted to thank everyone for your helpful information.

Sincerely,
Johnny

I'm on Homebrewtalk a fair amount. I'm planning on growing hops after I move, but I figured I'd grow them outdoors, hops are such incredibly easy to grow plants in western WA that it seems silly to put them in the AP set up to me.