Fresh Hops

[LandyAndy]

Hi People.
Just ordered some Hops rizomes to grow,Pride of Ringwood.
Growing vegies is another passion of mine,so wont have an issue with growing them.
Any of you use fresh hops???
If so how much and how to you treat them????
Storage,what do you do???? I have a air dryer and also a vaccum sealer so I can vacc seal fresh(then freeze) or dried.
Looking forward to your thoughts.
Andrew

[Andy_Chil]

Hi Andy,
I am about a place an order for some Cascade rhizomes so I would also be interested if anybody has had success.
Andy

[Aussie]

I too have just planted a pride of ringwood hop plant so I'll be watching this thread with interest.

[LandyAndy]

Great stuff guys,may the AULRO hop growers Co Op begin:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::co ol::cool::cool:
Andrew

[Sitec]

Mmmmm, I'd be interested to see how they grow. I've just sat down from putting an IPA on the go! I tend to use the East Kent Goulding Hops that I think are freeze dried. Be good to see pics of your as they grow!

[LandyAndy]

Went to a homebrew shop today,asked about using fresh hops.Was told you cant use fresh hops you have to buy the hop bags:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
Asked for 3kg brew tins,was also told you cant buy them.
I suggested they googles ESB ;););););););)
Andrew

[isuzurover]

Andy - I would be keen to buy some plants from you once you get them going.

[LandyAndy]

Ben,I ordered 4,you should only need one as they are quite prolific.Will see if I get a spare,Deb wants one or two for a customer at the nursery.
See Ebay,these are from Bridgetown so no import hassles;););)

1 Pride OF Ringwood HOP Rhizome Brewing Hops Plant | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-Pride-of-Ringwood-hop-rhizome-brewing-hops-plant-/321159707781?pt=AU_Plants_Seeds_Bulbs&hash=item4ac69c3c85)

Also does 4 slightly cheaper.
Andrew

[woody]

I had a Pride of Ringwood plant that struggled up here in the QLD sun. It perform very well under shade but if the sun touched any part of the plant that part would die. They lay dormant for the the winter period and seemed to enjoy an ice bath mid winter, which I was told promotes extra growth in summer.
In spring the plant would go crazy with growth, you could almost see it growing. Once the growth slowed the flowers would set and the air is pungent with a sticky hop aroma. The flowers where picked green and placed in vaccum sealed bags before going into the freezer.
I only used the hops for flavour and aroma, grabbing a handful of hop flowers and steeping in boiled water as you would do for a cup of tea. This was then added to the fermenter as part of the wort. The end result was a fresher tasting beer with a magical hop aroma. I never had enough hops to try using them for bittering but would love to hear how they go.

woody

[LandyAndy]

My rizomes have arrived,into pots tommorow:cool::cool::cool::cool:
Andrew

[Tombie]

Good going Andy...

Keep us up to date with your progress.

[LandyAndy]

Planted them into pots today as Im unsure where Im growing them yet.
They have shoots on them already:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:
Andrew

[Aussie]

I too have just planted a pride of ringwood hop plant so I'll be watching this thread with interest.

After a few months of laying dormant the Hop plant has come alive. In the last 2 weeks its put on a spurt of growth, its looking very healthy now. I thought after running out of top soil when I replanted it that leaving the roots exposed it might cark it, but it seems to be doing well.

[LandyAndy]

Yours is heaps happier than mine.Only got 4 leaves on one plant and one on another.
Has been cold here,weather is on the improve.
Andrew