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Hops. Help!

These are hops. In my yard, they are weeds. They can grow this BIG in a a corner of the yard when I’m not looking. You’re thinking hops are good because they are used in beer-making. And they grow well in Idaho. Turns out, they grow TOO well. Especially if you didn’t plan on them moving in. I cut down the mass in the photo above last night and put it in the compost bin.

Hops are a member of the Cannabaceae family. They are cousins of marijuana, hemp and hackberries. They are fast climbers, technically bines (instead of vines). The stems twist and grasp, instead of tendrils and other plant structures used by vines. Runner beans are another example of bines.

Hops love our climate. Idaho is the second-leading grower of hops, following Washington. Hops spread underground through rhizomes, and by seed. The flowers of hops are the part used in beer production. They’re sometimes called seed cones or strobiles.

Every year, I cut them down and try to pull them up. The roots and rhizomes are robust and difficult to remove. Plus, any little bit left in the ground will generate a new plant. They’re easiest to pull as young plants.

Oh. And they are caustic. Every place they touch my skin, they leave a welt. The bines have tiny hairs on them and the sap causes irritation. Some brewers have dealt with respiratory issues becuase of hops. The itchy spots last only about a day for me. Other people can experience more severe reactions.

One year, I clipped the flowers off just as the yellow pollen started appearing. I sold this bag to someone brewing beer at home. Although the plants make me mad because they invade my yard and make me itchy, when I harvested the flowers I discovered they smell lovely. Lilac-like.

But then there’s this. Our poor windmill.

~Debbie

 

 

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