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Re: Whiteflies, Aphids and Hops

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

Doreen:
  I've grown hops, and worked with them at the NCGR in Corvallis (that's
where the US collection of hop varieties is kept).  Also, there is a lot of
hop production in this area.  The "cones" are actually a type of bract, with
the flowers inside - they are what are used in brewing beer. Bearing
varieties are female and no males are planted as pollination would cause
seed set.  The seeds are large and hard and serve no purpose - the cones
themselves are what are used. They have a sticky resin on them which is the
bittering substance used in brewing.  You can also brew a tea of them that
is sleep inducing.  My father used to prescribe a pillow stuffed with hops
for people who had trouble sleeping - works well with children too. ( you
don't need a big one - just a foot square or so, in addition to your regular
pillow). The vines are not something you want to come in contact with as
they are very rough and can abrade you.  They are VERY vigorous and will
climb 30 feet and more.  If you want something that will fill a LARGE (say,
the whole side of the house) trellis in a hurry, they will do it.  They die
back to a root crown in the fall and come back in the spring.  They need
dividing every few years.  They like a soil with lots of organic matter. 
New shoot tips are edible steamed, but they will make you sleepy if you eat
a lot of them.  They are graft compatible with marijuana and in the 60's
hippies grew hops and grafted marijuana to them with the idea of producing a
stronger type of marijuana.  Didn't work.
-Lon 
  
----------
>From: "Doreen Howard" <doreen@fgi.net>
>To: <sqft@listbot.com>
>Subject: Whiteflies, Aphids and Hops
>Date: Fri, May 21, 1999, 7:43 PM
>

>Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
>
>Hi SQ Footers,
>I've noticed the traffic about aphids and other pests and the request for
>organic solutions.  I've always had good luck with neem seed oil and used it
>as a fungicide, too, in the fungus capitol of the world--South Texas.  I've
>seen dramatic results by using neem seed oil on eggplant and peppers that
>were besieged with whiteflies and flea beetles.  All the damage stopped
>totally after spraying with neem seed oil.  The trick is to spray in the
>early morning hours or after 7 p.m. at night.  Hot temperatures and direct
>sunlight will be magnified by the oil droplets on plant leaves, and damage
>will occur otherwise.  But, the stuff really works well.  It's great on
>roses, too, for aphids and black spot.  If you cannot find neem seed oil
>locally, I've found a spot on the Internet where you can order it from Green
>Light Company.  First, look at your local Wal-Mart, Lowe's or Home Depot to
>save the $4+ postage.  In my case, I'll pay it, because neem seed oil is not
>available in my area of Illinois.  http://www.greenlightco.com
>
>Does anyone have experience growing hops?  I was given a hop vine yesterday
>and have no idea what to do with it.  The giver said that the vine has
>interesting seed pods that can be dried for flower arrangements.  I thought
>hops were used to make beer.  Any info is appreciated.
>Doreen Howard
>Zone 5b, Central Illinois, where the weather is glorious, the peonies are in
>full bloom and the veggie garden is growing like crazy!
>
>
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