Fastest-Growing Hops

Climate and Cultivation

• Hops grow faster when they are located in ideal sites and receive superior care. Hop vines can almost be seen growing. They can grow 12 inches per day in perfect cultivation and during the summer. Hop bines grow best in full sun where the soil is well drained and even a little sandy. Temperate climates such as Washington, Oregon and Idaho have perfect growing conditions for hops. Hops thrive in locations where they can receive plenty of spring moisture followed by dry, warm summers.

Varieties

• Old World hops are called the "aroma" varieties. These are cultivars from the original European stock and have medium brewing value. Old World cultivars are adaptable to cooler climates. American varieties are the most commonly grown here and go under the headings of Early Cluster and Late Cluster. The Extract or High Alpha varieties are medium to late maturing but have some of the highest yields. Yield refers to cone weight yield in female vines.

Fastest Maturing

• The Old World plants and the Early Cluster American variety mature the fastest. This doesn't necessarily mean they grow the longest but that they produce usable buds earlier in the season. The Fuggle variety of Old World hops has given rise to numerous cultivars, all of which are some of the earliest-producing hop varieties. The Aroma hops from Germany produce the earliest cones for harvest. They are less disease resistant and prone to several fungal diseases that can damage the crop.

Fastest Rate of Growth

• The length of the side arms at maturity is an indication of the vigor of a variety. Brewers yeast has side arms that are 24 to 36 inches long and an excellent growth rate. Fuggles, which are the Old World cultivars, can have side arms in excess of 40 inches. The total yield is another indicator of rate of growth. Bullion is a cultivar that yields 2,600 lbs. per acre as does Brewers Gold. Kirin II has a yield of 2,500 but is considered an excellent, vigorous vine with a fast rate of growth. Its side arms can grow 40 inches long. The variety that grows the fastest will depend on the care and climate in which the plant is grown.