Hop Growing Down South

So you wanna grow hops but you live in one of the Southern states like me. Here in New Orleans, where it's extra humid, we can still grow hops, we just need to be careful.

Tips:

1. No Full Sun - Most growing directions will call for full sunlight. This works up North where it may get up to 100F a few times during the summer, but it never stays around that temperature. The nights are also much more cool in the normal growing regions for hops. Think about a place that gets full morning or afternoon sun, like the East side of your house. That will be your best bet.

2. Water at Night - Hops need a lot of water. Evaporation is the enemy down South. After the sun goes down, soak your hops well. But remember- if the soil is already damp or saturated form rain, watering will not do the plant any good, and may just cause rot.

3. Find Tolerant/Resistant Hops - Cascade hops are known to do well in almost any condition. Magnum does well everywhere as well. The English varieties and low-yielding hops like Golding, Fuggle and Willamette may give you less hops, but they also require less consistent watering, but do require good soil. If given the right conditions, Centennial and Sterling will give you large yields, but may wilt easily in full sun.

4. Don't do too Much - Unless you're planting in sand or in shallow soil, you don't have to go crazy with the fertilizer. Weed around the hops, and let them do their thing. If you've given them somewhere to climb, they will find it and climb. If you have average soil, they'll be fine. Over fertilization can lead to a leafy, low alpha acid hop.

Good luck!

Aaron