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Advice on Hops
Alison1805
Posts: 9
in Talkback
Hi everyone,
I have just joined the site today and am looking for some advice. I am thinking about growing a couple of hops in the garden, perhaps over an arch. the trouble is I have a small to medium garden and don't want them to take over, do you really need a large garden for them? Also my soil is heavy clay, would that cause them problems?
Thanks! 
0
Posts
hello Alison, I live in the NE and garden on clay soil which stays cold. I have a golden hop which grows along a fence. I love it, it's easily managed if it gets too unruly. The advantage for me is it dies back over winter so I can access the fence. My plant does produce hops which I sometimes use as house decoration.
Thanks, I will have a search through the web to find a good provider. I've heard that they make a great decoration and are quite fragrant too.
Do you find them susceptible to any diseases or bugs?
Alison
The leaves seem to end up with holes in them some years. Doesn't bother them or me! I think it may be flea beetle. They are reasonably vigorous so if your arch isn't too large maybe one would be enough. In any event you can easily layer a couple of stems and have a second plant if you need it. I potted one up in the Autumn and it has re grown despite standing out in a pot all winter. I was going to ask if you wanted it but we are 280 miles apart! To far to come
PS cant say I've noticed any fragrance on mine
I too grow the golden hop - beautiful colour and it sometimes produces hops. Dies back in autumn, you pull off all the old stems and it grows from the base again next spring. Like Bilje I have never noticed a fragrance!
Thank you for your advice. Today I ordered a Prima Donna Hop from the Hop Shop in Kent. I have sorted out the area and have decided to create a small frame with a couple of posts and wire. Don't know where I heard about fragrance but I'm not too bothered on that score. The hop I have chosen is a dwarf one ( growing to about 8 foot), ideal for small to medium gardens, so we shall see!
Thanks!