rhyzomes plantés cette année:
le cascade est monté à 5m et il y a environ 150 à 200 cônes en cours de maturation par tige. c'est le plus rapide et prolifique...
le crystal est plus timide; 4,50 et une centaine de cônes.
le kent est le plus lent. pas encore de fleurs et la croissance continue doucement (4m). je me demande s'il va produire cette année (ou si c'est un mâle...?).
j'ai pris exprès des variètés décalées en floraison pour voir celles qui s'adaptent le mieux au climat chez moi.
il faudra voir l'année prochaine comment ça évolue...
en tout cas pour tous ceux qui en ont la possibilité c'est facile à faire pousser, et quel plaisir de faire sa bière avec son propre houblon bio !
le truc c'est d'éviter les carences, car les feuilles anciennes jaunissent vite, et ne pas mettre d'insecticide même si quelques bestioles bouffent un peu les feuilles. on n'a pas d'impératifs commerciaux, et si la récolte est un peu faible, c'est toujours mieux qu'abondante et pleine de pesticides !
méthode de culture (en anglais):Hop Rhizomes - Planting & Growing
The best way to start growing your own hops is by transplanting hop rhizomes (or cuttings) in the spring when they can be shipped and stored well. We recommend planting at least 2 rhizomes. Commercially, growers will plant up to 5 rhizomes per hill.
Hops can be grown at almost anywhere or in any type of soil; however, they fair better in rich alluvial or sandy loom soil. They are very hardy plants but the hill they are planted in needs to be well cultivated to encourage proper drainage. They need plenty of water and food that will allow them to grow up to 1' per day, although not typically the first year. Plant the rhizomes were they will receive plenty of summer sun. They can tolerate temperatures in the 100's and below freezing. Hops can tolerate elevations up to 7000'; however, elevations below 3000' encourage more vigorous growth.
Hops will grow to 20' in length during the first year. Therefore, plant the rhizomes with a plan for trellising your hops, much like a grape vine possibly. Lay your hills out at least 7' feet apart. Hops shoots can be trained to grow along guide wires, fences, heavy twine and a number of other elevating ideas; but elevate them so they will be easier to harvest.
1) Refrigerate your rhizomes until the soil is ready for planting.
2) Choose a southern exposure, if possible. An east or west exposure is acceptable but the hops will not grow as vigorously.
3) Hops prefer light textured, well drained soil with a pH of 6.0-8.0. If drainage is a problem, cultivate a mound for the planting.
Definitely incorporate some organic matter such as manue or grass clippings into the soil, this is also a good time to add some slow release
fertilizer such as cottonseed meal, bone meal, rock phosphate, oyster shell, etc.
4) Soak the rhizomes in warm water (approximately 80 degrees) for 1 hour prior to planting. Powdered root stimulates added to the water
for soaking of the rhizomes and used during the planting process will bring the shouts out of the ground quicker.
5) Plant the rhizomes vertically with the buds pointing up or horizontally about 2 inches below the soil level.
6) Plant mixed varieties at least 5 feet apart. Identical varieties can be planted 3 feet apart.
7) First year hops have a minimal root system, therefore the soil should not be allowed to dry completely. Mulching the soil surface with some
form of organic matter does wonders in conserving moisture as well as controlling weeds.

When the vines are about one foot long, select 2-3 strong vines and wrap them clockwise around a support system. This can either be a trellis,
or simply a tall pole or strong twine coming down the side of your house.
In future years, the earliest shoots should be pruned off in favor of training up the hardy second growth. After the main vines have been established,
all subsequent vines should be removed from around the base of the hop.
Always use strong twine because the vine can become quite heavy. Secure the taut twine to a stake at the have of the mound
récolte et séchage (toujours en anglais):Hop Rhizomes - Harvest & Drying
The harvest date will vary with variety and location but will become more evident as you gain experience as a grower. At maturity, the hops’ aroma is at its peak and can be measured by crushing the cone and smelling it. The yellow lupulin glands in the cone become much more evident and plump looking when magnified. The cone at maturity will develop a drier, papery feel along with a lightening in color. Squeeze the cones as they develop and you will notice they become more light and resilient rather than green and hard. Your harvest date will most likely be similar to the harvest date in the Pacific Northwest which begins the middle of August and continues until the middle of September.
Early Harvest:
Hallertauer, Tettnang, Fuggle
Late Harvest:
Cascade, Northern Brewer.
At harvest, it is easiest to cut the vine about 2-3 feet from the base of the mound and place the entire vine in an accessible place where the cones can be picked, rather than working off a ladder.
Drying can be done in a food dehydrator, custom made hop dryer, well vented oven, or air dried. If you use a dryer, good air flow is important and temperature should not exceed 140 degrees. Cooler temperatures take longer but a better quality hop is obtained. Under dry weather conditions, take a screen off your house and spread the hops around. Place the screen in the shade and support both ends off the ground. This is best achieved in a well vented area protected from strong wind. Fluff the cones daily so moist inner cones are brought to the outside of the pile. If the pile isn’t too thick they will dry in around 3 days. The hops are dry when the strigs, the inner stems of the cones, are brittle and break rather than bend. Pack hops into a heavy plastic bag or sealable container and keep frozen until used.
Disease & Pest
The primary disease in hops is downy mildew, which is characterized by stunted, yellow shoots with the leaves turning yellow then black with spores in severe cases. Some varieties are more susceptible than others and it is more of a problem in moist spring climates as spores need free water to germinate. Downy mildew can b controlled by spraying a fungicide such as Cocide.
Insect pests are spider mites and aphids. Mites in hot, dry weather and aphids in cool weather. Spider mites can often be controlled by dusting with diatomaceous earth or commercial pesticide. Aphids should be sprayed with a soap spray or pesticide such as malithion.