Growing in a hay bale is the in thing. I did it last year with birdhouse gourds from seed. It worked well. There are birdhouse gourd birdhouses and bird feeders all over my yard. One of them even has birds in it. House wrens.
I've grown hops here in Tarrant county, Texas (Zone 8a) before, too. There was the Low Stress Training grow, which flopped, and the regular grow, which did fairly okay. Then, we had the great flood, and my rhizomes drowned. Those were Casscade from some dude in Illinois. It was probably poison ivy.
These are Zeus from www.homebrewsupply.com. Hmmm.
So right off we see there's a trick to this hay bale thing. Yeah. The rhizomes don't just get shoved into a hay bale. First, cut a hole in the box. Bale. I used a chainsaw last year. This is last year's bale. Hay bales hold together pretty well.
Second, fill the hole with dirt. I like Black Kow composted cow manure.
Third, place hops on dirt and cover with more dirt. About 1 inch. Cover with some hay so the dirt doesn't get washed away.
Water.
Wait.
I've grown hops here in Tarrant county, Texas (Zone 8a) before, too. There was the Low Stress Training grow, which flopped, and the regular grow, which did fairly okay. Then, we had the great flood, and my rhizomes drowned. Those were Casscade from some dude in Illinois. It was probably poison ivy.
These are Zeus from www.homebrewsupply.com. Hmmm.
So right off we see there's a trick to this hay bale thing. Yeah. The rhizomes don't just get shoved into a hay bale. First, cut a hole in the box. Bale. I used a chainsaw last year. This is last year's bale. Hay bales hold together pretty well.
Second, fill the hole with dirt. I like Black Kow composted cow manure.
Third, place hops on dirt and cover with more dirt. About 1 inch. Cover with some hay so the dirt doesn't get washed away.
Water.
Wait.