Fascinating 1947 Article on Spent Hops as Mulch

pdxwindjammer · April 2, 2013

I live in Portland, the Micro Brewery Capital of the USA. There are breweries everywhere around the city! I was considering the use of spent hops as mulch and came across this interesting article:

http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.ed...icles/1409.pdf

It seems that the ph level might be too acidic for tomatoes but would be ideal for acid loving plants!

If one were to get a truck load of spent hops and cover a garden plot with it in the fall, would the ph balance out or remain acidic?

RebelRidin · April 2, 2013

Sounds like you may have found the golden lager. That pH of 4.8 is comparable to peat moss. Likely it would not be an issue if used as a mulch, i.e. used reasonably it should not cause a rapid swing in soil pH. As it breaks down just incorporate it in the fall. Adding a little dolomite lime every few years as your soil tests warrant will handle any long term issues.

Iochroma · April 3, 2013

I'm not so sure...
I always fought the tendency for heavy Western Oregon clays to be too acid. I don't know what kind of soil you garden in, or if you have had it tested, so I can't say it wouldn't work for you.

Composting the hops with other basic materials, such as limestone, ash, etc. may be a safer way to use them.

pdxwindjammer · April 3, 2013

Iochroma, I have a two community garden plots in what used to be an apple orchard. Soil was good to start with and I added a truckload of alpaca manure last year and this year I added 2 1/2 yards of premium compost. Soil is good, my garden has been successful for the years I have had it. Never had the soil tested.

I will consider testing it next year.

Redbaron · April 3, 2013

I think it is a fantastic idea. Going to try and find a brewery near me.

emcd124 · April 3, 2013

According to the professional lab soil test I had done, my raised beds have alkaline soil (7.5) despite heavy amending with nearly 50% compost. So maybe a fall amendment with hops is just what the doctor ordered. From my reading online it seems very difficult to get a long term change in making alkaline soil more neutral. Now I only need to find some local breweries...

Daddy Pig · April 4, 2013

I've used spent wine must to good effect. Bit of a fly magnet though

April 2, 2013	#1
pdxwindjammer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 625	Fascinating 1947 Article on Spent Hops as Mulch I live in Portland, the Micro Brewery Capital of the USA. There are breweries everywhere around the city! I was considering the use of spent hops as mulch and came across this interesting article: http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.ed...icles/1409.pdf It seems that the ph level might be too acidic for tomatoes but would be ideal for acid loving plants! If one were to get a truck load of spent hops and cover a garden plot with it in the fall, would the ph balance out or remain acidic?

April 2, 2013	#2
RebelRidin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Maryland's Eastern Shore Posts: 993	Sounds like you may have found the golden lager. That pH of 4.8 is comparable to peat moss. Likely it would not be an issue if used as a mulch, i.e. used reasonably it should not cause a rapid swing in soil pH. As it breaks down just incorporate it in the fall. Adding a little dolomite lime every few years as your soil tests warrant will handle any long term issues. __________________ George _____________________________ "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure." Thomas Jefferson, 1787

April 3, 2013	#5
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	I think it is a fantastic idea. Going to try and find a brewery near me. __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

April 3, 2013	#3
Iochroma Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Francisco Posts: 49	I'm not so sure... I always fought the tendency for heavy Western Oregon clays to be too acid. I don't know what kind of soil you garden in, or if you have had it tested, so I can't say it wouldn't work for you. Composting the hops with other basic materials, such as limestone, ash, etc. may be a safer way to use them.

April 3, 2013	#6
emcd124 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: South Bend, IN Posts: 104	According to the professional lab soil test I had done, my raised beds have alkaline soil (7.5) despite heavy amending with nearly 50% compost. So maybe a fall amendment with hops is just what the doctor ordered. From my reading online it seems very difficult to get a long term change in making alkaline soil more neutral. Now I only need to find some local breweries...

April 4, 2013	#7
Daddy Pig Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: CA Posts: 10	I've used spent wine must to good effect. Bit of a fly magnet though