If you are someone who likes to keep up with news, you must have come across the story of a farmer who is growing a vegetable worth almost a lakh or €1,000 per kilo.
Yes, you heard it right. This vegetable is called 'Hop Shoots', vegetable that sell for 85000 per kg.
An enterprising farmer from Bihar, Arnesh Singh is growing this insanely expensive vegetable on his farm lands successfully and is being lauded by for his efforts for changing the game for Indian farmers.
What are Hop – Shoots?
Humulus lupulus, having common name hop or hops, is a species of flowering plant in the hemp family Cannabaceae, native to Europe, western Asia and North America. It is a perennial climber growing to 6 m (19ft 8in) at a medium rate, living up to 20 years.
Usually grown in America & Europe, the crop is being cultivated in India as a trail to discover if India can be one of its producers.
Why Hop – Shoots are so expensive?
As published by The Guardian, this vegetable takes 3 years before it is ready to be harvested. This plant needs a manual labor to be employed in its harvesting as tiny green tips of the plant require a lot of care while being plucked.
A few studies suggest that ho shoots can create antibodies against tuberculosis and hence can help to fight the deadly disease. Hop plant is also said to have helped people suffering from anxiety, inability to sleep (insomnia), restlessness, tension, excitability, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), nervousness, and irritability.
Not just that, few other studies also suggest that its acids can also kill cancer cell and block leukemia cells. Xanthohumol (Xn), a prenylated flavonoid isolated from Hops (Humulus lupulus L.), has demonstrated potent anticancer activity in multiple types of cancer
The flower of this valuable plant, called hop-cones or strobile, is used as a stability agent in the process of making beer—to balance the sweetness of the beer.
Million Dollar Question: How do you grow Hop - Shoots?
You must be wondering, but how do I grow this miraculous plant? Don’t worry, experts at Nurserylive got your back.
Given below are the conditions of sun, water and soil required for successful sowing and harvest of Hop Shoots:
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Soil – Hops prefer well-aerated soil that is rich in nutrients and has good drainage. Hops also prefer a soil pH between 6.0-6.5 so the addition of lime may be necessary.
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Sun – Select an area with plenty of sun. Hops need at least 6-8 hours of sun a day, so the South facing side of your home or an exposed site is a good location.
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Water - Hops in their first year have a minimal root system. This implies that you shouldn’t let the soil remain dry for too long. Mulching is a great way to conserve moisture in the ground, as well as helping in deterring weeds. However, beware of over watering as it can cause the roots to rot. So, it pays to let the soil dry out occasionally.
The process Sowing and Harvesting of Hops also require great research on cultivator’s part. Read up to know the basics:
- Hops can be planted in the month of March-May and in August-September. Plant your hops rhizomes about 4 inches deep and make your mound of soil about a foot high to aid drainage. Place the root side of the rhizome down.
- The hop bines grow vertically and require some kind of trellis. Your trellis could some heavy rope or twine going from ground level to your roof or poles securely mounted in the ground.
- Begin harvesting once cones become dry and papery and the leaves are richly scented. Once harvested, the cones must be further dried in a cool dry place. This process can take weeks and isn’t complete until the cones are brittle.
- Cut the bines back to 3 feet or so after harvesting. The winter frost will kill off the bines, after which you can cut them back further and cover them until spring. When spring comes, take a spade and cut around the rhizome to trim the roots back to about a foot. Add some fertilizer, fresh mulch and a new trellis and you will be ready to grow hops for a fresh new season.
So what are you waiting for? It’s time to try your hands at growing this trending and expensive vegetable. We have already made this vegetable plant available on our website for your buying needs. As always, Nurserylive is committed to serve you, ever thing related to plants at the best prices.
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