Hop
Hop: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Hop, Humulus lupulus, is a perennial climber in the Cannabaceae family, known for the cones used in brewing beer. Its long, herbaceous stems are renewed each season from a persistent crown. They can cover several metres during the warmer months, then die back towards the end of the year. The plant remains perennial even though its above-ground growth disappears in winter.The broad, green leaves have toothed edges and are often divided into several lobes. Rough stems carry small hairs that help them grip; they climb by twining around whatever they encounter. Hops can therefore create a dense seasonal screen over a pergola or trellis. Their appearance changes markedly through the months, unlike that of an evergreen climber.The crown produces rhizomes: underground stems carrying buds, rather than simply horizontal roots. This structure explains the plant’s persistence and the possible appearance of new shoots nearby. Its vigour is useful in a large…
