I have a relatively small backyard but I have four hop rhizomes. I have Cascade, Chinook, Columbus and Cluster and I'm looking to get another couple this year. They are starting to get to a reasonable size now so I am expectign a good crop this year. I was expecting one last year too but there was a significant heat wave in Adelaide that damaged the plants. As a result I didn't get much out of them.

All of my hops are in pots for the moment, half wine barrels although one day when we move to a more spacious property they will all find a permanent place in the ground.

What I will be doing is providing update through the growing season of how they are going and more importantly how the flavours go in the beers I make.

For the moment the hops are dormant, but they have started to show signs of a number of strong shoots. It is going to be a good year.