How to Build a Hops Garden

Plant hops in mid-spring after the last frost for the best survival rate and a long summer of growing. Plant hops outdoors only in warm zones, where summer lasts for 120 to 150 days.

Designate a large open space for your hops garden, where the plants will get full sun for 12 to 15 hours every day with quick winter drainage. Hops plants cannot grow or produce in shade or standing water, and they suffer if they don't get enough air circulation.

Prepare a sandy, loamy base for hops planting. Turn 3 inches of garden loam and 3 inches of organic compost into the top 10 inches of soil in the planting site, and mix the soil well. The plants do best with quick-draining, organic and relatively neutral soil, and fail in strongly acidic or strongly alkaline bases.

Plant hops rhizomes 1-inch deep and in pairs. Put two 4 to 5 inches from each other in a "hill," and leave 3 to 5 feet between hills. Always plant the rhizomes with their blooming side facing up. Leave 5 to 10 feet between rows.

Erect a trellis, fence or arbor behind each hops row for support. The plants cannot grow without this base.

Water hops plants with 1 1/2 inches of water every week. Hops plants don't tolerate dry soil or inconsistent waterings.

Prune the hops plants when they reach 1 to 2 feet in length. Maintain two to six strong shoots from each hill and cut the rest to the ground. This pruning helps to maintain control throughout the year. Tie the remaining shoots up to the trellis with soft felt or cord ties, and maintain their training through the summer. Repeat this pruning every year.

Fertilize hops plants with granular 10-10-10 fertilizer every year in the spring. Mix the fertilizer into the top 4 inches of soil around each rhizome when they display new growth and water.