Jump to content

LG's Old Pest Brewery - setting up from scratch...


Lord Gruntfuttock

Recommended Posts

So also during lockdown I looked at growing some hops. Just as a hobby (not sure the climate is right here) but will be nice to throw a few home-grown leaves into a brew if I get any flowers. Best spot was a bit of unused wasteground beside my shed, north facing and gets all day sun, but currently a dump for old bricks, waste oil, weeds and roadsigns...
ig9WvJ3.jpg

Concreted in an old fence rail that was lying in the paddock...
q846m5y.jpg

Then read they don't like wet soil, and looked at the swamp I was intending to use after a day's rain... :scratch:
9Cfjtxg.jpg

So I dug out the clay/shitty ground, and dug in gravel, compost, good soil, more compost, fertilser, decent top soil, and raised it a little to help drainage...
XcSrC5o.jpg

And it looks pretty good. Will string some guide wires from the crossarm and plant 3 plants when they arrive. 2 x Fuggles on the outside and a Cascade in the centre. Might plant herbs in the bit to the right, just got tired of digging... 
51GJ2dF.jpg

Be interesting to see how they go... :)

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 44
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

1 hour ago, Lord Gruntfuttock said:

So also during lockdown I looked at growing some hops. Just as a hobby (not sure the climate is right here) but will be nice to throw a few home-grown leaves into a brew if I get any flowers. Best spot was a bit of unused wasteground beside my shed, north facing and gets all day sun, but currently a dump for old bricks, waste oil, weeds and roadsigns...

Then read they don't like wet soil, and looked at the swamp I was intending to use after a day's rain... :scratch:
 

Be interesting to see how they go... :)

Yeah they don't like getting too damp, have had a few rhizomes rot away, also you may need alittle more space then that as they tend to spread out but see how you go :)

I have 3 with shoots atm, and 10 that haven't done anything yet. Not a very good gardener myself however and my dog likes to sleep on them :s

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Hop update. they're going ok. Cascade in the middle is a star, growing ~ 120mm vertically a day and throwing tendrils out everywhere looking for something to climb. Have since read you don't want to train the first bines that shoot up as they are bull bines looking to spread rather than flower, so might do some pruning (unsure on this as first year is all about establishing a healthy root system rather than yield). Might stick the cut offs in some dirt to see if they grow, and chuck em in random spots on the property...

QEV18Lb.jpg

7UuZuOf.jpg

8WhqaUl.jpg

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Shit haven't been here in a while. Hops are about the same stage again now, ahead of last year. Got a great crop in March and have made a few brews with them. Actually won a prize at beer festival competition too so things going OK...

Just cracked one of these, a passionfruit Gose, a sour German beer with salt and coriander. Sounds gay AF but very refreshing. Cheers...

20221109_182852_copy_1000x865.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...