Propagate hops

Hop is a delightful climbing plant, very attractive in the garden for several reasons :

Its very rapid growth allows it to create a beautiful screen of tender green foliage that is highly decorative;
Its production of cones is used in brewing beer;
Its lianas enable it to coil by itself and climb its support.

For all these reasons, it can be interesting to multiply this voluble perennial in the garden. There are several techniques to obtain new young shoots quickly, accessible to all gardeners. Discover our tips and techniques to multiply hop easily, from sowing to propagation by cuttings, including layering.

Hop - Humulus lupulus

1- Sowing

When to sow hop seeds?

At the end of autumn, shake female cones to harvest seeds;
Store seeds in a cool, dry place;
Hop seeds need a period of cold to be able to germinate. You can, for example, leave them for a few weeks in the fridge before planting;
Under cover, sowing is done at the end of winter, in February–March. For sowing outdoors, wait until May, once risk of frost has passed.

How to sow hop seeds?

Outdoors:

Work soil well with a broadfork and a rake. Note that soil must be well drained;
Add a handful of well-rotted compost or manure;
Sowing is done by broadcasting;
Cover with a thin layer of soil and water;
Repeat waterings to keep substrate moist;
Germination occurs after 15 days to 2 months.

In trays:

Fill a tray or buckets with seed compost;
Moisten compost using a spray bottle;
Plant 1 to 3 seeds per bucket and cover with soil;
Keep substrate moist until germination;
Germination takes place after 15 days to 2 months;
Plant outdoors in spring, outside frost periods.

sow gaillardia, gaillardia sowing

Note: With sowing, you will obtain male and female plants. Only female plants produce cones, which can be a disadvantage if your goal is production. In that case, it is better to use other propagation techniques. However, sowing is the only method that allows cross-breeding between different cultivars.

2- How to take a hop cutting?

In August, select and cut a stem about 15 cm long;
Remove lower leaves and keep only 2 leaves at tip. This prevents excessive transpiration and exhaustion of cutting;
Plant cutting in a pot filled with seed compost. You can also use a plant hormone for cuttings.

Firm down and moisten compost;
Place a cloche over it to saturate atmosphere with water vapour. You can also use top of a plastic bottle, a plastic bag supported by bamboo canes or a mini-greenhouse.

Be careful: stem and foliage must not touch cloche to avoid mould! Place cutting in a bright, shaded spot. Avoid positions in strong sun;
Root system will form quickly after 4 to 6 weeks. You can then transplant your young hop into a larger pot;
Plant rootball in spring of following year, at resumption of growth.

3- By layering

Some plants layer easily. This is the case for hop, which is also hardy and easy to grow.

Bury part of a long stem of your hop, leaving green foliage exposed at the tip. Hold the creeping stem down with U-shaped pegs.
Remember to water to keep soil moist.
Roots and rootstocks will form after one year.
You can then replant your new climbing plant elsewhere.

Discover our dedicated sheet: Layering: how to do it?