Effect of Cultivar on Growth and Strobile Production in Hops (Humulus lupulus) in Central Florida

Hops (Humulus lupulus) is a perennial, herbaceous agricultural crop cultivated for its strobiles which contain a resinous compound used for flavoring and aroma in food, tea, and beer. The United States is the second largest global producer of hops with greater than 30,000 acres in production (Davis and King, 2012). Increased demand for hop products has recently resulted in production of hops in non-traditional areas. Successful hop cultivation outside traditional areas of the Pacific Northwest has been reported in North Carolina and New Mexico (Davis and King, 2012; Lombard, 2013). Preliminary investigations conducted in Central Florida at the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center support viability of hop production in climate zones previously considered too mild. Sixty hop rhizomes consisting of four varieties (Chinook, Columbus, Amallia, and Neo1) were transplanted into native deep sand soil (Tavares-Millhopper soil series) within a polyethylene covered, open-sided greenhouse. Plant bine length and quantity of strobiles produced were collected weekly. Differences among cultivars for both bine length and strobile production will be discussed. Results from this work will assist in selection of hop cultivar for production in Zone 9 climates.