Hops are not only very suitable for brewing beer, but also as a privacy screen for terraces and balconies. The easy-care climbing plant can easily be grown in a bucket. How to care for a hop plant in a pot.

Hops also thrive as a container plant

Advantages of growing in a bucket

Hops in the garden have one major disadvantage. It spreads widely and is almost impossible to remove once it has settled. In addition, the plants grow very tall when grown outdoors.

When growing hops in buckets, these problems can easily be remedied. The plant

  • does not spread
  • won't be that high
  • can be easily moved to another location.

How to care for hops in the bucket

While hops in the field hardly need any care other than pruning, the care required in the bucket is somewhat higher.

There must be no waterlogging. The pot must therefore have a sufficiently large drainage hole so that excess water can drain off. The soil must not dry out completely, so you have to water the hops more frequently.

Loose garden soil that is as nutritious as possible is sufficient. As in the field, the hops are fertilized once a month with vegetable fertilizer (7.49€) or, if available, nettle manure.

Hops in buckets must be protected from frost

Basically, the native climbing plant is absolutely hardy. It shrinks, leaving only a dried up stalk. Outdoor hops therefore do not need any winter protection.

Things are a little different in the bucket. Here the earth freezes faster when it is very cold for a long time. You must therefore protect the pot from frost. Place the bucket on an insulating base such as a styrofoam sheet (€35.50) and wrap it in foil until spring.

Do not cut back the plant, but leave the withered stems until spring. In February, cut the hops down to the ground. Then it is also time to repot the climbing plant.

tips

Even in the pot, hops cannot do without climbing aids. Attach a plant support. A location in front of a high trellis or a pergola where the shoots can climb is even better.

Category:

Vegetable garden