Hopshoot, the tender, young shoots of the hop plant (Humulus lupulus), is becoming increasingly popular in the world of agriculture. This crop is bitter and delicate, therefore utilized mainly in the making of craft beer since it gives an earthy flavor. In this article, one can read the various farming processes involved in hopshoot cultivation.
Steps to Grow Hopshoot on Your Farm:
In Hopshoot farming, many processes, like soil preparation, plantation, irrigation, harvesting, etc, are involved. You can read about these processes in detail below.
Preparation of Soil
The first step in growing hopshoot is preparing the soil. Hop plants require well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter. Hopshoots require neutral to slightly acid soil, having a pH level around 6.0 to 7.0. Farmers test the soil before planting it to ensure optimum growth.
Preparing the soil requires removing the weeds and debris from the field. One can make use of a Solis 6024 S tractor at this stage. This is highly versatile. One can easily attach any implement to it. By attaching this implement, one can till the soil, level the land, and even incorporate organic fertilizers into the soil. This helps create a loose, aerated environment for the hopshoots to grow. Â
Plantation Process
Plants the hop vines once the soil has been tilled. Usually, hopshoots are harvested from the young shoots of mature hop plants. First, the hop plants propagated from rhizomes that are portions of the root system with three to four growing eyes, or nodes, are plated in rows 3-4 feet apart to allow for adequate space between the vines.
The hop rhizomes should be planted just as early spring is approaching the last frost. Farmers must ensure that the plantations are placed deep enough in the soil to allow proper root development but not so deep that they inhibit further growth. Once planted, mulching on the sides of the plants by farmers helps protect the soil from erosion and keeps the roots cool.
Managing Growth and Training the Vines
As hop vines grow, they need proper management and support. Hop plants are climbing plants, and to achieve high yields of hopshoots, they need to be trained to grow upwards. This can be done in numerous ways by farmers, one being the trellising system that requires drawing the vines up strong poles and wires.
One should check the vines, especially during the growing season, for signs of pests and diseases. Some common pests for hop plants are aphids and spider mites, which could be targeted either through organic or chemical treatments. Proper irrigation practices are followed because hop plants require water, especially when young. However, the soil has to be well-drained in order not to cause rot at the root level.
Harvesting Step
Hopshoots are usually harvested in early spring, just when the young shoots start to emerge from the soil. At this stage, the shoots are tender and fragile and have a slightly bitter taste. Hopshoot harvesting requires utmost care since the shoots are extremely perishable and require very careful handling.
Hop shoots are usually handpicked to avoid damaging the tender shoot. Time-consuming, but it ensures only the best quality shoots; hopshoots are usually harvested early in the morning when the shoots are still fresh at peak flavor.
Post-Harvesting Step
Once the hopshoots are harvested, the post-harvest process begins. The first step is to carefully sort the hopshoots, removing any damaged or unhealthy shoots.
After sorting, the hopshoots need to be cleaned. This is usually done by gently washing the shoots with water to remove any dirt or debris. Once cleaned, the hopshoots are ready to be prepared for sale or further processing.
For large-scale hopshoot farming, farmers often rely on powerful machinery like the Powertrac 439 plus tractor to help with the post-harvest process. Its strong engine can handle almost any task easily. The 439 plus tractor helps farmers to handle post-harvest tasks more efficiently with less amount of manual laboring. Additionally, the Powertrac 439 plus price starts from ₹6,70,000 and goes up to ₹6,85,000 in India.
Drying and Storage
After cleaning, hopshoots can be preserved by drying. Drying helps in preserving the flavor and aroma of the hopshoots along with eliminating possible spoilage. There are various methods to dry hopshoots: one is air drying, oven drying, or by means of special drying equipment.
Once dried, the hopshoots are packed and stored in a cool, dark place to maintain their quality. Farmers can also sell dried hop shoots directly to breweries or other businesses in need of high-quality hops for brewing.
The Final Words
 Hopshoot farming may be a new venture for most farmers but has a lot of potential. With the proper preparation and farming of the soil, hopshoots can grow and be harvested. The popularity of craft beers has exponentially increased in recent times, allowing the business idea of hopshoot farming to gain profits while maintaining environmental harmony.
