[HOPPED TO THE LIMIT]

Happy Holiday All!! I'm a first year hop grower and winter is coming. I live in NYC and I had to grow my hops in two 4 gallon buckets. I got about 4 ounces dried this first year. Next year I will plant the root balls in the ground, but to preserve them over the winter what would be the best way? Should I keep them in the buckets and put them in my garage?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

[hopfenundmalz]

I live in SE MI, and the hops have always been in the ground.

[fmader]

Happy Holiday All!! I'm a first year hop grower and winter is coming. I live in NYC and I had to grow my hops in two 4 gallon buckets. I got about 4 ounces dried this first year. Next year I will plant the root balls in the ground, but to preserve them over the winter what would be the best way? Should I keep them in the buckets and put them in my garage?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

I'd pull them into the garage... Just as long as your garage stays pretty cold. They need to go into a dormant stage, but if we get a cold winter like we did last year, I'd be afraid of the buckets freezing solid.

[erockrph]

Happy Holiday All!! I'm a first year hop grower and winter is coming. I live in NYC and I had to grow my hops in two 4 gallon buckets. I got about 4 ounces dried this first year. Next year I will plant the root balls in the ground, but to preserve them over the winter what would be the best way? Should I keep them in the buckets and put them in my garage?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

I'd pull them into the garage... Just as long as your garage stays pretty cold. They need to go into a dormant stage, but if we get a cold winter like we did last year, I'd be afraid of the buckets freezing solid.

+1 - I started my hops in large pots for my first few years. the first year I pulled them right against my house (under the deck) to keep them a bit warmer than where they were growing, but still allow them to experience winter temps. The second winter I left them out in a more exposed area. None of the hops came back for the third year, so I think the roots froze solid.

[HOPPED TO THE LIMIT]

Thank you guys, I appreciate the advice. I'll try leaving them in the garage this year. It's detached from the house and not insulated so it gets cold in there but hopefully it will keep them from freezing.

[fmader]

That should work. It still wouldn't hurt covering them with a few inches of mulch.

Definitely get them in the ground when you can get a shovel in the ground in March. Once they are in the ground, you'll be fine in the winter. I mulch mine in the spring and then cover with several inches of mulch to put them away for the winter.

[goobersan]

Stored all 4 of my plants last year in the garage (attached). Pretty sure they were plenty cold, even with mulch/dirt on top. No problems, although after planting in the ground, this seasons yield more than doubled !

[HOPPED TO THE LIMIT]

I'll add a few inches of mulch to my pots and throw them in garage with a tarp. Next year I will be planting them in a more permanent spot in the ground. Thank you all for the help.