So this weekend I started my hops trellis project. It’s been a pretty crazy process because I changed my design once, and when I was at home Depot, I changed it back. I think for the better, but we’ll see.
Pictured below are the post markers for where my 4×4 posts went. I purchased 3 8ft 4×4 posts of pressure treated wood for this project ($9 each). I also had to pick up a special shovel for the project from Harbor Freight as the post hole digger was like $35 and I was not into spending that much on something I was only going to use once.
I used two 60lb bags of quickcrete to set the posts in place. Each post hole was 18″ deep (Nick recommended 24″ and I was thinking 12″ so I split the difference) and after checking this morning, I think they will be plenty sturdy. As you will note from the picture, I used two support stakes on each post and used a level to ensure they were straight both ways.
The post on the far right has a bow to it, but after messing around with it, I noticed that it will straighten out once I put the cross beam in.
The next step is to cut and secure the cross beam up to the three posts. From there, I need to decide if I am going to connect this to the fence as I originally planned, or just make it a free standing trellis. If I connect it to the fence, I just need to get one more wood piece to run parallel to the fence and all the perpendicular pieces for the top. We’ll see how things line up after the connection beam is in place…
Cheers.
So you only have 6.5ft above ground?? I think you need to do some more research. Most people recommend atleast 12ft.
The plan with this one is to keep them short and bushy. There are going to be a few layers going on top of the posts that should give me about 8ft with 4th of width so that they can grow up and over. Sound good Ben?
Cute.
You have such a wonderful space for your hoppy bounty. Your project will look great in the summer and fall. I wish I had a bit of property to do that.
I get fresh hops from a woman on the southside, and her two vines completely cover a 6 ft iron fence along the back of her Chicago lot (about 20-25ft) and they are definitely more bushy, but amazingly filled in (tons of hops!). I imagine she keeps some of the old main vines up as the support for the new shoots every year…but not sure about that.
I am now planting a few Newport and Nugget rhizomes in Alden NY in a test garden and I am experimenting with a low trellis system. I am hoping bines will extend horizontally and “fill in” – I will post how things go.
BobJ – The first few years are slow, but they will take off. I didn’t collect anything in my first year. Make sure you get a spot with a lot of sun.
Keep me posted on how it goes.