Rules for growing hops, features of planting and care

There are a number of things to consider when growing hops. The plant can be propagated by seed or by vegetative propagation. In order for it to grow and develop normally, it is necessary to water the bush in a timely manner and regularly apply fertilizers. The culture is growing rapidly and needs support. Adequate protection against diseases and pests is essential.

Description and peculiarities of the plant

Hops are a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the hemp family. It has curly stems that grow up to 7-8 meters. There are many types of cultures, each of which has certain characteristics.

Ordinary

This garden plant is found on all continents. She grows quickly and has lots of buds with a distinct aroma. The plant is mainly used in medicine.

Japanese

This plant variety has 5-7 decorative lobed leaves. Cones do not appear on such bushes. Therefore, they are used as decorative annual vines.

Curly

This plant reaches 6-10 meters.It is a perennial dioecious crop that has many varieties. Most of the time they are grown for decorative purposes.

How to plant well in the ground

To successfully grow this culture, it is worth considering a large number of characteristics.

Seat selection

Hops thrive in partial shade. The plant must be reliably protected from the cold wind. It should be planted in fertile loamy soil. The soil should be sufficiently moist and have neutral acidity.

pH values ​​should be 6.1 to 7.

Time recommendations

Most often the plant is planted in May. It is recommended to carry out planting work at a temperature of + 10-12 degrees.

Landing scheme

There are several options for breeding hops. This is done by seeds or cuttings.

Seeds

It is recommended to use the seed method for propagating exclusively one-year-old hops - Japanese. It is recommended to plant seeds in May. They should be immediately planted in the ground to a depth of 1-1.5 cm. The germination capacity of planting material lasts 3 years.

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The seeds do not germinate very well. If you plan to use hops for collecting seeds, then it should be planted a little earlier - in April. To do this, you need to use pots with a universal substrate. Sprouts will appear within 2 weeks. They should be immediately moved to a separate container. It is recommended to plant seedlings in June. This should be done with a clod of earth.

Cuttings

Hops are best propagated by cuttings or seedlings. In this case, it is recommended to prepare the planting material and plant it in the ground. This method of reproduction increases the likelihood of normal development of culture.

Follow-up care rules

Hops are difficult to grow. This process depends on many details. The plant may suffer from pest attacks or the development of diseases. Therefore, it is important to carry out sanitary pruning in a timely manner. To do this, remove the leaves from the roots of the shoots. The procedure should be done after 3-4 months of rapid growth. After planting work, it is recommended to cover the bed with a layer of mulch. It is best to use peat for this purpose.

top dresser

In order to grow hops, the plant is recommended to provide complete nutrition. It is carried out as standard in spring and autumn. In early spring, mineral supplements are recommended. It is also allowed to use potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. In the fall, it is worth adding manure and compost.

watering mode

Liana is considered a moisture-loving plant. Therefore, it is recommended that it ensure sufficient soil moisture. It should be ensured that there is no stagnation of moisture. In summer, it is enough to water the culture once a day. After harvest, the amount of soil moisture should be reduced.

Flight

Complete care of hops is impossible without timely removal of shoots. When the sprouts reach 15-20 centimeters, they are cut off. Each bush should have 5 strong branches. When the shoots reach 50 centimeters, they should be laid on a support.

Usually there should be 3 rods per bracket. It is recommended to remove excess shoots as the crop develops.

It should be remembered that hops are able to cause the oppression of neighboring plants. To avoid this, it is recommended to constantly monitor the development of culture. The pinch is not negligible.It consists in shortening the side shoots. This procedure increases the yield of buds.

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pest control

Hops often suffer from insect pest attacks. To cope with pests, it is recommended to use effective insecticides in a timely manner. Most often, experts advise using solutions of Cuprozan or Polycarbacin.

If you don't want to use chemicals, you should use tobacco infusion. A mild soapy solution or wormwood decoction is also suitable.

Proper maintenance of the plantations is not negligible. In the fall, it is recommended to remove dead stems and dig the ground between plantings. When spraying, it should be borne in mind that most insects accumulate on the underside of the leaves. Therefore, you should definitely pay attention to this part of the plant.

Spider

It is a dangerous pest, which can be identified by the accumulation of cobwebs on the bushes. A soap solution or insecticidal preparations will help to cope with it.

Wireworm

This pest is the wireworm. It eats the shoots of the plant and significantly impairs their development.

To get rid of pests, it is worth using tobacco infusion.

Weevil

The elongated front of the head is considered a characteristic feature of parasites. The pests feed on the leaves and roots of the crop. Insecticides will help to cope with it.

Aphid

These small pests accumulate on the soiled side of the leaves and cause their damage. It is recommended to use a soap solution to kill aphids.

How to care during a period of rest

In autumn, after the leaves of a perennial bush have faded, it is worth cutting off all the dry shoots. After pruning them, it is recommended to apply fertilizers. Cover the rest of the bush with a layer of soil from above. Its thickness should be at least 30-40 centimeters.

The roots of the plant can easily withstand the winter. With the onset of spring, they begin to grow again. If the crop is annual, it is recommended that it be completely dug up and removed.

Support

The plant has quite powerful shoots. Therefore, it needs strong and high support. Some hop shoots are capable of reaching 10 meters. You can make a stand yourself. A great option would be to locate the support on the south side of the house.To do this, lower the rope from the roof and fasten it to the ground.

Harvest characteristics

Hop cones are harvested when they reach technical maturity. It will be possible to determine it according to the following criteria:

1. The lightness disappears, and the scales adhere tightly to the base. When pressed on the bump, it acquires an elastic consistency. The pressure mark quickly disappears.
2. The color of the buds changes. From green it becomes lighter. The tint can be golden green or yellowish.
3. The buds acquire a sticky consistency and a more pronounced smell from the lupulin glands.

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To correctly collect hop cones, the following characteristics should be taken into account:

1. Remove the cones with small petioles. Each of them is collected separately.
2. Harvest the largest buds first. Then tear off the rest.
3. It is important not to overexpose the plant. Otherwise, the cones will take on a brown tint, and their number will decrease significantly.
4. It is recommended to put the collected material loosely in boxes. It is important to avoid dense deposits.
5. After harvesting, the stems should be cut 15-20 centimeters from the ground. It is recommended to burn them. Thanks to this, it will be possible to destroy possible infectious diseases and get rid of parasites.

How to Propagate Vegetatively

Perennial crops can be propagated vegetatively. This is most often done by dividing the rhizome. Sometimes suckers are used. In the first case, in the spring, after the formation of young shoots, it is recommended to separate a fragment of the rhizome with a sharp shovel. This should be done directly in the ground.Rhizome cuttings need to be cut. Their length should be 10-15 centimeters. Each fragment should include 2-3 pairs of buds. It is better to give preference to one-year-old roots. Their diameter should not exceed 2 centimeters.

The plant should be rooted in an inclined position. It is recommended to do this in wet sand. It is also allowed to use foam. Nurseries usually sell parts of the hop rhizome. If you want to get a varietal plant, use an exclusively vegetative breeding method. The culture takes root quite quickly. The effectiveness of the method reaches 95-100%.

Additional tips and tricks

To grow hops in the country, you should focus on the following recommendations:

• choose the right breeding method - planting hops is allowed by seeds or cuttings;
• choosing the right site and the right soil composition;
• water the plant in a timely manner;
• apply fertilizers on time;
• provide the bush with reliable support;
• prune the plant properly;
• control diseases and insect pests.

Growing hops in your garden is quite easy.This unpretentious plant grows rapidly and serves as a decoration for the summer cottage.

To avoid the development of diseases and other troubles, it is recommended to water and feed the bush in time.