Charlottesville Area Masters of Real Ale

Last year I planted 5 new rhizomes on a little 8' high trellis on the north side of our property. The vines did okay, but once the dogwood above leafed up, they didn't really go crazy because the canopy was very dense. So over the weekend, I built a trellis along the south side of our house, where our vegetable garden is. I attached a couple eye hooks high up on the gable end rake, about 15-20 feet off the ground, then ran three twine lines from each hook at an angle:



I then transplanted the four hop plants that made it. I was amazed at their root growth...some roots went out 2 or 3 feet! So they were definitely established...I dug them out by hand (literally), it was like surgery. But they did already have sprouts, which helped me to find them amongst all the ivy. Here's a cascade sprout post-transplant:



I think they'll be very happy this year. Second season...more sun...plenty of reflectivity from the white wall behind them.

Very cool! Thanks for the images. I just ordered my 5 plants (2 fuggle, 2 goldings and 1 cascade) and started to clear my plot. I haven't yet decided how I want to support them yet, either with a post and "T" or two posts with a guide wire. Hmmmmm.

• When you dug up your rhizomes, did they grow across, down or both?
• If you had ones that were 2-3 feet, could you separate them and double your yield?
• Because you replanted them, will that set your yield back? (first year creep, second year sleep, third year leap)

Good looking set-up. All of the CAMRA plantings bode well for an autumn "wet hop" brew!