growing forgein hops in the uk

[robsan77]

Does anyone know if it is possible / legal / commercially viable to grow american and NZ hops in this country?

I would guess that like grapes they wouldnt be the same due to environment but there must be chance they'd be pretty close or possibly even better??

Establishing a commercially viable crop would take years I'd expect but with rising hop prices and demand, if we could get uk grown hops like cascade or nelson then wouldnt it be worth it?

 

[unclepumble]

You would be able to grow them, but they would probably give you a completely different hop profile, to what you are looking for, due to the soil position and geographic location.

Think Wye Valley Goldings compared to East Kent Goldings, technically the same hop variety but different profiles.

There was a guy on the BN the other week who was growing Cascade in the Willamette Valley from the original Rhyzomes, as he said that Cascade today is completely different to how he remembers it when it was originally grown in the Willamette Valley. I Think Cascade are mainly grown in Yakima now.

UP

 

[robsan77]

does anyone know where I can get some plants? Cascade, amarillo, nelson?

 

[keith1664]

I don't think Amarillo are sold on the open market. I do have a cascade outside in a bucket, it was bought one evening whilst under it's influence and I've still not had the time to prepare it's residence. I can't for the life of me remember where it came from either!
It might have been here, but they don't list them at the moment.
There are some however on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HOP-PLANT-FEMALE- ... 4aabb92430

I really must stop shopping whilst under the influence :lol:

 

[keith1664]

I've just been through my bank statements!
My cascade came from here.
http://www.essentiallyhops.co.uk/acatalog/Hops.html

 

[Ghengisken]

I can recommend essententiallyhops as well. I bought some Casacade rhizomes a couple of months back and they are doing well in my garden. I know that the early spring is the best time for rhizomes so it may be a little late this year.
GK