Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2023 - 70

HOPS (Humulus lupulus)
HOPS (Humulus lupulus)
VARIETIES1
HOPS
Cascade
Chinook
Galena
Nugget
Zeus
1
Abbreviations for state where recommended.
R
AL
A
AR
R
GA
G
KY
K
MS
M
NC
N
N
N
N
N
SC
S
TN
T
Hops (Humulus lupulus) are a new crop for the Southeastern
U.S. Most hops in the United States are grown in the Pacific
Northwest in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Hops are photoperiod
sensitive plants (short-day plants). Commercial hops varieties
produce the highest yields in the most northern states.
In short-day areas (below the 35th latitude), flowering occurs
too soon when the required number of nodes for a particular
variety are produced. As a result, yields are not maximized.
In longer day areas (above 35th latitude), vegetative growth is
maximized prior to the point where day length begins to shorten
in mid- to late summer.
Yields noticeably decrease the further south the plants are
grown, particularly below the 35th latitude. Breeding efforts are
underway to produce varieties specifically for the Southern U.S.
In the meantime, there are cultural practices that can be used to
increase yields in Southern hop yards. Most of the information
currently available for hops production pertains to large-scale
production in the Pacific Northwest or from the emerging industries
in the Great Lakes and the Northeast. That information can
be helpful, but the differences in photoperiod, disease incidence,
lack of infrastructure for processing, and scale of production require
adapting it to suit conditions in the Southeast.
Hops are herbaceous perennials with long-lived underground
crowns. Each year the plants send up multiple shoots
(called bines) which bear papery cones (flowers) that are the
plant parts that are harvested for making beer and herbal products.
When mature, the cones contain bright yellow, sticky lupulin
glands that contain the fragrance and bittering compounds
that hops are valued for. Each year the bines can grow to be up
to 25 feet long, so they need to be trellised. Hops have male and
female plants, but only female plants are grown commercially so
the cones do not contain seeds.
Hops are an expensive crop to establish because of the need
for a permanent, tall trellis system. Short hop varieties are being
bred, but at this time the common varieties need to be grown on
tall trellises. There are several trellis designs available that are
suitable for production in the Southeast. Most trellises are 16 to
18 feet tall and composed of locust or cedar posts and wire. The
bines are trained to strings (often coir twine that is replaced annually)
suspended from the top wires of the trellis.
Hops require a well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0 to
6.5. Hops are heavy feeders and soil tests should be taken annually
to determine how to provide adequate nutrition. Hops also
require irrigation which is usually supplied as drip-irrigation.
70
Varieties. Cascade is the variety that has proven to be most reliable
throughout the Southeast. It is an aroma hop and is used by
most brewers. Growers are encouraged to talk to their customers
to identify other varieties to experiment with. Growers in
the Southeast have not been very successful growing the Noble
varieties.
Pruning. To encourage flowering at the proper time for increased
yields, emerging hop shoots are often cut to the ground
in the spring until late April. Then several shoots are selected
to be trained to each string. The remaining emerging shoots are
kept pruned away. The foliage from the lower four feet or so of
the plant is mechanically or chemically removed to encourage
good air movement around the plants.
Harvesting. Cones are harvested in mid to late summer. Smallscale
growers often hand-pick cones multiple times during the
season. As the hop yard expands, however, this becomes impractical
and most growers move to a one-time harvest which
involves cutting the bines, removing them from the yard, and
running them through a mechanical harvester which separates
the cones from the foliage, bines, and strings.
Cones can be sold as fresh (wet), whole cones to brewers
for making seasonal ales. More commonly, hops are dried in a
dryer called an oast. A few brewers use whole dried cones, but
most brewers require dried hop pellets. Hops quality is determined
by chemical analysis which includes alpha and beta acids
and essential oils. Most brewers will want these numbers before
purchasing hops. How the hops are grown, when they are harvested,
and how they are handled after harvesting and stored
will greatly affect these values.
SPECIAL NOTES FOR PEST MANAGEMENT
Disease, insect, and weed control strategies for the Southeast are
still being developed. Downy mildew is the primary disease that
growers need to be prepared to manage and should be a major
consideration when choosing varieties. There are many other
diseases, including viruses and viroids, that affect hops and that
a grower should be scouting for. The major insects are spider
mites, Japanese beetles, leafhoppers, and comma butterflies.
Weed control should be planned for in advance and may include
use of herbicides, landscape fabric, and other mulches. A good
air-blast sprayer will be needed to provide good spray coverage
up to the top of the trellis.
2023 Vegetable Crop Handbook for Southeastern United States
Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2023

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