Humulus lupulus

[W0nderW0man]

Hi guys

I got a fun Christmas present, some seeds for the "humulus lupulus" hops. I had a quick look on wiki but I don't know how I could find out "what" variety they are, how big they grow and if I could ever use them, should they ever grow flowers.

 

[geetee]

Depends where you live and what the weather is like. Some people have success growing as far north as Scotland and the Theakston Brewery in Masham ,Yorkshire has a row of hop bines on the path just outside.

Give them a go and see what happens, I believe that the first year will not yield much but you may get enough for one brew depending on enough sun and not too much rain.

 

[cheapbrew]

Have a google there is lots of info.

Humulus lupulus is a PERENNIAL CLIMBER growing to 6 m (19ft 8in) at a medium rate.
It is hardy to zone (UK) 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from Jul to August, and the seeds ripen from Sep to October. The flowers are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required) and are pollinated by Wind.The plant is not self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.


Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

SOURCE: http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Humulus+lupulus


https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/details?plantid=981

 

[TheRedDarren]

The only problem I heard about hop seeds is that they don't grow true from seed, that's why everyone buys a rhizome. Also with seeds you don't know if you're going to get a male or a female, it's the female plant you want for brewing, whereas a rhizome split from a parent plant will both be true to its lineage and also a female.

On saying that, hope are still beautiful plants that are great for attracting wildlife so I'd say crack on and grow it, just be aware that from seed the chances of actually getting exactly what you want are slim.

 

[clibit]

Humulus Lupulus is the general name for hop plants. So could be any variety, and may not yield flowers. But might!

 

[Hoppy]

If you have seed, approximately 30% will be male. As the Red Barron says, the variety grown from seed will be a hybrid of the female hop and the male pollinator, this could be anything.

It is usual practice in hop growing countries to kill all males in the growing area to stop the females producing seed, as it has no brewing value and adds weight (and some say off flavours). the reason in the UK hops are seeded, is that the growers feel that it shortens the time of the hop flower spends in Burr (immature flower that is open for pollenation) this time is when verticullium wilt takes hold (a mould that kills UK hops), therefore letting hops seed helps reduce the risk, it is thought.

WBR
Hoppy

 

[TheRedDarren]

It is usual practice in hop growing countries to kill all males

Sounds a bit biblical! Didn't King Herod do that?!

 

[Hoppy]

Sounds a bit true, when you buy your hops by the kilo alpha, brewers don't want to pay for 20% of nothing!

 

[W0nderW0man]

I knew they grew tall but crikey 6 m that is .... huge! I might just give it a go, why not. I wouldn't really expect for anything tasty or usable to come off it but given that I've got them I might as well give it a go!

I did wonder though how I could find out what variety it is...