localhopheads.com

1. Plant with sprouts facing upwards.

2. Only cover with one to two inches of soil, tops!

3. Don't pack down soil, but rather water it and let gravity and water do the work (less chance of breaking the stems).

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Cheers Hop Heads!  John

(If the player doesn't work, you can check out the video directly on our YouTube page, www.youtube.com/localhopheads.)

Who:  Anyone interested in growing hops in their yards, on their fences, or in their dorms or apartments

What:  Local Hop Heads first rhizome distribution meeting

Where:  Lewis & Clark Brewery Tap Room (located under the Brewhouse) here in Helena, MT

Why:  It's an organized excuse to enjoy beer with other Hop Heads

When:  Monday, April 27th at 6pm

Whether you've been gardening for years, or you've never even so much as grown even a blade of grass in a lawn in your life, we'll discuss the necessary steps to grow hops in your yard, up your fence, up the wall of your house, or in pots in your dorm room or apartment.  It's suggested to buy two rhizomes ($6 total, 3 bucks a piece) in case one rhizome dies.  We'll have pamphlets with growing information available for free distribution, and we might just have a small sample beer tasting to discuss the subtleties of taste variations when different varieties of hops are used.  (Translation:  we'll have beer.)

For more info, please e-mail me (John McLellan) at:  info@localhopheads.com 

See you all on Monday, April 27th, 6pm in the Tap Room!  WAHOO!  

I ordered these rhizomes from Dave at www.freshops.com.  Dave had put in a little pamphlet with some valuable information on how to properly care for your rhizomes before planting.  The pamphlet suggests this:  Put a quarter cup of bleach in a gallon of warm water (not hot).  Dip the fuzzy (moldy) rhizome into the warm water and hold it there for only a few seconds, then pull it out.  Carefully rinse it off in warm water (either running warm water or another bucket of fresh water) and be mindful to not damage any of the sprouts.  Let excess water drip off the rhizome and put it into the bag, making sure that there's no standing water in the bag.  (Droplets of water inside the bag are fine, but tiny "puddles" will promote rot.)

I looked through the bag and surprisingly only about ten to fifteen of the rhizomes were moldy.  As a precaution, I "cleaned" all 100 rhizomes using the method described above.  Here I am several days later, and the rhizomes are comfortably sitting in their bag, all of them no worse for the wear.  

Everyone I've spoken with that has any experience growing hops has assured me that they're pretty hardy plants.  Here in Helena, MT, we're only a few weeks away from being able to get these rhizomes planted in the ground.  Summer can't get here quickly enough!

If anyone wants to purchase rhizomes on their own, we highly suggest working with Dave over at www.freshops.com .  He has been professional, courteous and prompt with his orders.  You can call him during PST working hours (they're in Oregon) at (541) 929-2736, r toll free at 1-800-460-6925.  Their website is very informative and you can place orders from there as well.  

In all, we still have a few months to wait until we can successfully plant our rhizomes.  In the meantime, thank God for cold beer to keep us company.

Cheers!