Wishing my Hops were growing

Grow Yourself a Six-Pack

WHEN Ben Granger, an owner of a Brooklyn specialty-food shop called Bierkraft that sells more than 1,000 different beers, began making his own home brew, he planted some hop vines.

It smelled green, like grass, with a hint of pine.


A half-dozen vines had already wound themselves about 20 feet up the sturdy cords Mr. Granger had attached to the top of a metal ladder that was strung with a clothesline and pulley, for reeling laundry in and out of the second-story window.


“I just use it for my vines,” Mr. Granger said. “Once it gets real hot and humid, they’ll grow 6 to 10 inches a day.”


The deeply lobed leaves arch out from rugged vines that look as if they could eat Brooklyn if given half a chance. But Mr. Granger cuts his to the ground in late August or early September, to harvest the hops.

Hop vines thrive in full sun to partial shade, and in fertile, well-draining soil. Other than that, they don’t require much care.

My rhizome - never took. Next year!