Industrial & Crops· Humulus lupulus
Hops Growing Guide
Perennial climbing bine cultivated for its female flower cones (strobiles) used primarily in brewing to add bitterness, flavor, and aroma to beer. Also used in herbal medicine.
How Long Does Hops Take to Grow?
Hops is typically ready to harvest about 120 days after planting.
FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Production: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 13 October 2026. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL Licence: CC-BY-4.0.
Growing Conditions
Soil Requirements
Soil Type & pH
Best soil types: sandy loam, loam, silt loam
pH range: 5.5 - 6.5 (optimal: 6)
Drainage: excellent
Nutrient Needs (N-P-K)
Planting Guide
Yield & Economics
Common Pests & Diseases
Common Pests
- hop aphid
- spider mites
- Japanese beetle
Common Diseases
- downy mildew
- powdery mildew
- verticillium wilt
Use AI crop disease detection to identify issues early and prevent crop losses.
Growing Tips
Hops require tall trellis systems (5-6 m); invest in proper infrastructure before planting as the trellis is the major capital cost.
Train 2-3 vigorous bines per string in a clockwise direction; remove lower leaves to 1 m height for disease prevention and air circulation.
Harvest when cones feel papery and spring back when squeezed, and lupulin glands are golden-yellow — dry immediately to 8-10% moisture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Hops take to grow?
Hops typically takes 120 days from planting to harvest. Seeds germinate in about 14 days. The best planting season is spring.
What soil does Hops need?
Hops grows best in sandy loam, loam, silt loam soil with a pH of 5.5-6.5. Excellent drainage is required.
What temperature does Hops need?
Hops grows best at 15-25°C. Frost tolerance: high. Heat tolerance: low.
What is the expected yield for Hops?
Across 24 countries with grounded data, reported national yields for Hops range from 420 to 2,930 kg dried cones/hectare, with a median of 1,435. These are national statistics, not a best-case figure — an individual farm's yield depends on variety, climate, soil and management.
Key Agronomy Terms
Core farming concepts, explained in plain language.
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