Hops form long hop tendrils that grow upwards over a trellis. Flowers and later fruits appear on the tendril if the non-toxic hop plant is female. Hop vines are ideal shade providers and can also be dried for decorative purposes.
How does a hop vine grow?
Hop vines are fast-growing, deciduous and non-toxic plants that can grow up to seven meters long in one season. Ideal for providing shade, they grow ten centimeters every day and wind themselves clockwise around a trellis. Female plants bear fruit in August and September.
Hop vines are fast-growing
- Up to seven meters longer
- Growth ten centimeters per day
- summergreen
- not poisonous
Depending on the variety, a hop vine can reach five to seven meters in one season. The tendrils stay smaller in the pot.
Hop vines show impressive growth. On average they grow by ten centimeters every day. If the climate is favorable, they even grow one meter longer per week.
That's why hop vines are very suitable for shading balconies, terraces and pergolas. In summer they form a dense, decorative privacy screen on the fence or terrace.
Hop vines are clockwise turners
Hop vines have a special feature. They always rotate clockwise around the trellis. If the direction changes for any reason, the hop vine stops growing. As soon as the tendril winds to the right again, the hops continue to grow.
When supporting the hop vine as it climbs, always guide it clockwise around the plant support.
Harvesting hop vines
Hop fruits grow on female plants in August and September. Because the hop vines grow so high, the fruit can only be harvested with a ladder.
If that's too much effort for you, simply cut down the hop vine so that only about 80 centimeters remain.
The fruits can be picked quickly and easily from the cut tendril.
Drying hop vines for decorative purposes
Hop vines are very decorative, especially when they bear fruit. Unfortunately, the leaves themselves cannot be dried. A hop vine with fruit is also very pretty without leaves.
Cut the vine, remove the leaves and hang it upside down in a warm, dark and dry place. To make the hop vine last a long time, spray it with hairspray.
Tip
In autumn the hops settle down. The hop vines then dry out and are either cut or left until spring. They are then cut back in February – before new growth appears.
