Hands in the Dirt: Hops

Photo and article by Donna Iverson 

Looking to try something new in your garden next year? Consider growing hops. Hops are a native perennial plant that can live 25 to 50 years.  
Hops have many uses in addition to brewing beer.  The yellow-green cone shaped pods (flowers) produced by the hops can be eaten, used medicinally or even provide a shade barrier for your patio or porch 
The tomatillo-sized hop cones can be tossed in salads or sprinkled on pizza. They can be used to season stews, soups or baked goods.  More intriguing culinary ideas can be found at 
https://www.duluthpack.com/blogs/great-recipes-for-cooking-with-hops/
Brewed in tea, hops are said to relieve headaches and serve as a muscle relaxant and pain reliever.  Scientists are studying them for their psychoactive properties and to treat anxiety, depressions, ADHD and sleep disorders. A word of caution:  hops are high in estrogen and can cause dizziness in some people. Best to check with your doctor before embarking on self treatment.
To grow hops, you will need a fairly large area with loamy well drained soil that is slightly acidic. A strong trellis is required as hops can grow 10 inches a day when conditions are favorable. They will not produce flowers the first year. On the downside, they require a lot of water and fertilizer.  For more on growing hops, check out www.almanac.com/plant/hops
As for history, colonists began cultivating wild hops as early as 1628 in New England.  Settlers brought them west to Michigan and eventually as far as the west coast.  
 
Lastly, maybe you do want to try brewing your own beer. If so, check out www.homebrewersassociation.org