Growing hops in the backyard this summer

I wonder how much growth we will get this year and how much we will get in terms of yield? We went back and forth regarding whether we should grow our first year hops in containers (transplanting them into the ground next year), or whether to start them in the ground now. In the end, we decided to to do both. Primarily, because in my excitement to order rhizomes, I must have ordered five types instead of the planned four. This left us with an extra pair of rhizomes to deal with, so those went into the planters.

I purchased five types of hop rhizomes from Freshops: Centennial, East Kent Goldings, Fuggles, Nugget, and Mount Hood. I purchsed a pair of each type, and the Mt. Hood and Nugget rhizomes were the jumbo variety. This just means they are older and larger rhizomes and will establish themselves quicker than the regular rhizomes.

Centennial

• Profile: Spicy, floral, citrus aroma, often referred to as Super Cascade because of the similarity; A clean bittering hop.


• Usage: General purpose bittering, aroma, some dry hopping


• Alpha Acid Range: 9 - 11.5%

Nugget

• Profile: Heavy, spicy, herbal aroma; Strong bittering hop


• Usage: Strong bittering, some aroma uses


• Alpha Acid Range: 12 - 14%

East Kent Goldings (EKG)

• Profile: Spicy/floral, earthy, rounded, mild aroma; spicy flavor


• Usage: Bittering, finishing, dry hopping for British style ales


• Alpha Acid Range: 4.5 - 7%

Fuggles

• Profile: Mild, soft, grassy, floral aroma


• Usage: Finishing / dry hopping for all ales, dark lagers


• Alpha Acid Range: 3.5 - 5.5%

Mt. Hood

• Profile: Mild, clean aroma. One of three hops bred as domestic replacements for Hallertauer Mittelfrüh.


• Usage: Finishing for German style lagers


• Alpha Acid Range: 3.5 - 8%

(Hop variety descriptions from John Palmer's How to Brew)