Down In the Holler

For my birthday in 2007, a couple of my friends gave me four delightfully fresh rhizomes of two varieties of humulus lupulus: Cascade and Chinook. I quickly got to work researching planting and growing techniques for these vigorous vines. Based on this reading, I was prepared for (and got) a relatively meager yield from the first season. The second season, which is now in full swing, is another story entirely.

My trellis design takes advantage of a steep North-facing slope that forms the upper end of what we affectionately refer to as the Holler. Three vertical 2×6 planks act as the top end of the trellis’ wire, with the bottom end anchored about 18 feet down the hill in two large safety-orange stakes. The wire traverses the hillside between these structures in a large “W” shape, which provides one vertical length of wire for each of the four rhizomes.

Last year, even at the peak of the growing season, the vines only reached about three-quarters of the way up the wires, and I was able to harvest a total of about 16 grams of flowers. This year, the Cascade vines are already stretching beyond the top of the trellis and bursting with flowers.  I will probably harvest as much within the next month as I did for the entire season last year.

The Chinook vines are slightly less vigorous in my setting, and I think it is related to a nitrogen deficiency. A couple of weeks ago I gave them a decent dose of blood meal and they have since improved significantly.

I am extremely excited about harvesting these fragrant beauties and putting them to use in my first batch of home-brewed beer this Summer. Stay tuned for details on that process, as I am sure there will be many tales to tell.