How to grow Hops in Australia
A herbaceous perennial climber that dies back to the crown each winter and runs five to seven metres up a string every summer. Planted once as a dormant rhizome, it crops for twenty years or more.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Spacing: 90 cm
- Time to harvest: 120 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7.5
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | July to September | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | July to September | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | July to September | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | July to September | |
| Adelaide & SA | July to September | |
| Perth & WA | July to September | |
| Tasmania | July to September | |
| Canberra & ACT | July to September | |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not suited. Hops need winter chill and long summer days, and crop best between latitudes 35 and 55. The tropics have neither. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not suited. Hops need winter chill and long summer days, and crop best between latitudes 35 and 55. The tropics have neither. |
Varieties
- Cascade
- Chinook
- Fuggle
Companion planting
Good companions
Harvest and storage
Storage
Dry the cones to crisp, then vacuum seal and freeze. A year at full strength.