Hey guys,
Nice looking plants out there. I'm in central FL (Lady Lake, near Leesburg and The Villages)
I tried hops in containers on my porch, but they soon overgrown the largest posts I could find, then I move them outside. Overall a huge disaster. That was 2 years ago.
Now I came up with a new plan. Did an addition, and now have an ideal spot, I hope, for growing. Corner of the house pointed WNW which will get early morning sun and afternoon shade. I bought huge, 36" diameter planters that'll sit on the landscape rocks between house and shrub line (roses, hope those don't interfere with my ability to get at the hops later or else they'll meet mr hedge clipper). Now the best part is I've got probably close to 30 feet height to the top of my eaves, into which were installed eyebolts, securely into the framework of the trusses I am told. I am going to put pulleys on these eyebolts, so as to lower the vine as the grow toward the eyebolt and pulley. This way I don't need to be climbing up a huge ladder and risk falling.
I have my rhizomes, planters, soil (miracle grow mix, and have lost my myo-magic pellets I was going to put into the planters to help the roots develop. Maybe I'll finds them somewhere.
I bought 4 planters and 4 rhizomes: cascade, Columbus, sterling, and magnum (wish I had bought centennial instead of one of the others but oh well)
Hopefully I'll get the rhizomes into the planters by Friday if I can make the time.
Couple things I wanted to ask or share. Someone ? Mojito ? Posted a pic of a planter? Looks similar to mine. I think my brand was Susquehanna. Seem what cheaply made. I think will be OK once filled with soil however.
Also, someone posted that they used BT to deter caterpillars? What is BT?
I'll be sure to post some pics of my hop garden as soon as the rhizomes are planted.
As far as the twine, I would ideally like to use something permanent, strong, and lightweight. Stainless steel braided wire comes to mind. Do you Thi the hops would be able to climb that? Something maybe only a bit thicker than picture hanging wire? I bought some coir a few years back but didn't use it. I don't think the pieces are nearly long enough and a 20 ft length would need to be spliced in order to employ the pulley system I'm planning.
Thanks for sharing!
TD