There is no person who has not tried the intoxicating drink beer. But many people think that growing hops is expensive and not feasible in small areas. But if desired, this vine is easy to grow at home for both brewing and medical purposes. Let's see how to plant hops in the country.
Perennial Description
Hop belongs to the family of cannabis. Its inflorescences resemble small fir cones, but only green. In fact, the hop fruit is a nut. In the period when the perennial does not bloom, it looks like grapes.
Its branches also curl, and the leaves are divided into several oblong parts, jagged along the edges. Sometimes its leaves are simple, not divided. Hops used to be attributed to the same family as the mulberry, that is, to the Mulberry.
But in the second half of the 20th century, perennials were excluded from there in a series of studies. In nature, there are two types of hops. One of them grows in Japan and is called climbing hops. 
It is used only in landscape design as a liana, because it is an annual plant and does not form inflorescences. The second type is common hops, which includes varieties that are regularly used in production.
Landscape designers also like to use in their projects such climbing plants as: actinidia, climbing rose, campsis, honeysuckle, wisteria, hydrangea.
Hop ordinary - this is the perennial plant from which beer is usually obtained. It is this species that forms the same pineal inflorescences. In the scales of "cones" you can find the substance lupulin, a small amount of which causes poisoning of the human body.
But if we touch on the topic of brewing, during the processing of hops, lupulin is broken down into derivatives - lupulon and humulin. In this form, the substance can not harm a person. The plant also has male inflorescences in the form of brooms.
Hop ordinary grows in all corners of the globe. However, the birthplace of the plant is not known. 
Hop ordinary has a strong root system, which is located in the upper layer of the earth (up to 1 meter in depth). In this case, the main root goes into the ground to a depth of 4 meters.
Choosing a place to grow
Liana develops healthy in the penumbra, and the scorching sun can weaken it, and it will be prone to pests. Many say that it is best to plant hops on the southern side of the site to protect it from the north winds, but this is misleading.
Did you know? Beer has a golden or dark shade thanks to Lupulin.In fact, because of their powerful shoots, hops are not afraid of the wind. On the selected place should be trellis: most often they are single-plane with a visor. They can also be made independently.
Lighting
The site should be under the sun at least 5-7 hours a day. In this case, the growing season of hops will take place in the usual time, and the plant will not die from high temperatures. 
Important! Cuttings when planting put in a hole horizontally.
The soil
Growing hops in the country provides for the presence of non-acidic and non-alkaline soil (6.5-7.2 pH). It must be drained and fertile. Loamy and sandy soils will be the best option.
They have enough mineral and organic substances in stock and are often used for growing grapes.
Make sure that the water in the soil does not stagnate. It is also not desirable to have groundwater, which should be located no higher than 2 meters from the top layer of soil. 
Proper planting hops
With proper care and proper planting, ordinary hops will produce a generous harvest. Before planting plants need to loosen the soil. This will help cultivator or hoe. A garden rake is also useful for loosening the remaining large lumps of earth.
All garbage is removed from the plot: weeds, branches, and other grass. The process is carried out two weeks before planting hops. Then the soil is fertilized with compost or mullein. Usually, half of the fertilizer is applied before loosening the soil.
The rest of the make three or four weeks after loosening the site. Pits for saplings or cuttings are made at a distance of 1 meter from each other. The depth of each of them is 10 cm. If it is a cutting, then it is completely covered with earth.
The timing of the first seedlings depends on the material used. For example, in saplings they are 7-11 days, and in cuttings - up to 2 weeks.
Important! Ensure that the fertilizer for the hop fertilizer is not acidic.Do not forget that shoots need to be directed along the wire on the trellis neatly and within a few days. Thus you will help the plant, and then it will independently begin to twist the support clockwise.
Plant Care
Growing hops at home is a time consuming process that is influenced by the smallest details. The plant is subject to many pests and diseases.
Therefore, they carry out sanitary pruning: root leaves are removed from the shoots (1 meter in shoots). Such pruning is carried out after 3-4 months of active growth. After planting, you can spend mulching with peat.
Watering
Drunk vines responsive to abundant watering. It is important to provide the plant with a moist soil. Make sure that the water does not stagnate. It is enough to water once a day in the summer. After harvesting, watering may be less frequent.
Top dressing
Growing hops at home requires in the care of him to provide a full dressing. It is carried out as standard for all perennials: autumn and spring. 
In the rainy season - in the autumn, it is important to make a sufficient amount of manure and compost, and in early spring - to fertilize the soil with potassium-phosphorus or mineral additives.
Did you know? Hops for beer began to be used later than the direct production of the drink began. Now beer cannot be imagined without this element, which, by the way, was added for the sake of extending the shelf life. Hop is a natural preservative.
Weeding and soil care
Weeding is carried out carefully due to the proximity of most of the roots. Usually weeds are removed and the earth is slightly loosened - so it is saturated with oxygen, and the shoots become stronger. It is not worth doing this as often as necessary.
Support
Many have seen what the plant cones themselves look like, but few know exactly how the hop plantation looks. Since the plant has not a vine, but powerful shoots, the support is needed strong and high. Places, for example, mass cultivation are similar to vineyards. 
But the fact is that the shoots of hops can reach 10 meters in length. Therefore, the support must be strong. Summer residents make it independently.
It is possible to make a support from the south side of your house. To do this, it will be enough to lower the string from the roof and fix it on the ground.
How to grow hops
Planting hops - a protracted process, but shoots appear quickly. There are several ways of reproduction: seeds, cuttings, seedlings. Usually they plant in May, because the vegetative period of a representative of the family of Cannabis lasts 120 days. It is important that during the landing period the weather is dry and the temperature is above + 10-12 ° ะก.
Important! Hop shoots require trellis at least 7 meters in height.
Seeds
Hop seeds are very small. The weight of 1000 pieces is only 4 grams. The procedure for sowing seeds is standard, as for all perennial plants. Only in this case the seeds are usually not stratified, because the shoots of the plant are removed for the winter.
However, sift the required amount of seeds into the soil, pour and cover tightly. When young shoots begin to appear, open the seedlings and maintain the temperature in the room at + 20-24 ° C. 
The seedlings are made in early April, as the hops grow rapidly. Seedlings will soon get stronger, and at the end of May they can be planted.
Interestingly, in a region with a humid climate, seeds are planted directly in open ground. And the results of the plant gives such as when growing seedlings.
Vegetative methods
The most convenient ways of planting hops - precisely with the help of cuttings and seedlings. In this case, you will need to put the finished material into the prepared land. Moreover, the higher the probability of normal plant development.
After all, the seeds have already been tested before you and rejected. How to plant cuttings and seedlings, as described above. Those who have been cultivating hops for many years recommend planting them using vegetative methods.
Did you know? Belgian cooks often use hop leaves in their dishes.
Few of the beneficial properties
In folk medicine, as well as in industrial production, this plant leaves only female inflorescences of hops, which have a large number of useful substances.
The maturity of the fruit is also important, because the harvest is held in late August - early September. Hop "cones" should have greenish-yellow shades and be dense on sensations.
In medicine, hops are used most often in broths, which relieves edema. Sometimes infusions from this plant are used to relieve inflammation of the kidneys. It is recommended to collect the fruits not yet ripened, so that they are slightly airy.
When sewing pillows, you can add a small amount of this plant material inside, and this will help you in the fight against insomnia. 
Hops have analgesic, sedative, anti-inflammatory properties and are even used as a laxative. Often included in anticonvulsant drugs. But the preparation of any infusions and decoctions should be carried out carefully, because the hops easily ignite.
Thus, if you want to plant a drunken vine on your plot, take care of the availability of suitable soil and a place for arranging support. Hops - moisture-loving plant, and the growing season falls on the hot summer. Water it every day. in time to collect a decent harvest.
