Maximum Yield USA June/July 2019 | Page 35

H ops are not a crop routinely associated with hydroponics — a tall vining plant produced on an extensive scale outdoors in suitable temperate climates for the brewing industry. Despite seeming to be an odd specimen for greenhouse or indoor cropping, hops have, in fact, become one of the new, innovative options for growers looking to produce a niche market product. For those who have a liking for craft beers or inkling to brew their own, growing a few hop plants can be a viable option as well as a fascinating new crop to experiment with. The hop plant (Humulus lupulus) has a long history of cultivation and is primarily grown for the production of dried or pelleted hop flowers (cones) which are used to add bitterness, flavor, and aromatics to beer. However, the fresh hop cones (called wet hops), which have a very limited storage life, can also be used in brewing, and may confer additional qualities that the pelleted form does not. Commercial wet hop brewers typically aim to use the fresh cones within 48 hours of harvest for maximum compositional quality and will pay a premium price for such a niche market crop. For home brewers, the potential of producing selected varieties of hops specifically for wet-hop brewing immediately after harvest has become an exciting possibility as fresh hops are often difficult or impossible to obtain. The harvest season for outdoor grown hops is extremely short and only occurs once a year, however, hydroponic hop crop experiments suggest three to five crops per year of fresh cones may be possible with the use of climate control under protected cultivation. With successional planting, it could be possible to supply high-quality fresh crops throughout the year from hydroponic production. There have been reports that with the controlled nutrition in hydroponics, hops with higher concentrations of essential oils, aromatic compounds, beta acids, and flavonoids can be produced as well as larger, heavier cones and a higher overall yield. The harvestable portion of the hop plant are the flowers (also called cones or strobiles). Apart from their essential use in beer brewing, hops have other properties of interest. These include medicinal compounds that can act as a mild sedative for the treat- ment of insomnia. Hops pillows — pillow fabric filled with dried hop cones — have long been used to help induce sleep, while other compounds have been used to treat anxiety and restlessness. Other hop products include tea and soft drinks, and the tips of the young shoots can be steamed and eaten in a similar way to asparagus. Hops are also occasionally used in culinary dishes for a unique flavoring or to add a distinctive aroma. Maximum Yield 35