Hops are incredibly fast-growing vines that can reach an impressive height of up to 30 feet by midsummer. As a deciduous plant, it dies back in the winter to save energy, only to come roaring back with fresh shoots in early spring.
How High and Fast Do Hops Actually Grow?
- Cultivated hops usually reach about 23 feet.
- Wild hops can stretch up to 30 feet.
- They grow about 4 inches a day—that’s up to 3 feet every single week!
In a typical garden setting, cultivated hops will grow until they hit about 23 feet. If you spot wild hops out in nature, they can get even taller, reaching up to 30 feet. However, if you are growing hops in containers, they won’t get nearly as massive. On a balcony or patio, you can usually expect them to top out between 10 and 13 feet.
On average, hops grow about four inches a day. You can practically watch them move! Just keep in mind that these climbers need a sturdy trellis or a wall to cling to as they make their way up.
Of course, that lightning-fast growth only happens if the conditions are right and the plant is getting enough nutrients. If you’re growing them in pots, be sure to use a vegetable fertilizer once a month. Organic options like nettle tea also work wonders for giving them a boost.
Keeping Growth Under Control
If you don’t want your hops taking over the entire house, don’t worry—you can always prune them back. Another trick is to leave more shoots on the plant; the more shoots there are competing for energy, the less height the plant will gain. As mentioned, keeping them in a pot is also a great way to limit their size.
Hops will also stay smaller if they don’t have anything to climb. This climbing plant always grows clockwise (to the right). If it can’t find a way to keep moving in that direction, it will actually stop growing. You might see this happen if your hops reach the top of a balcony railing and start to flop over—once they lose their upward momentum, the growth spurt usually comes to a halt.
