I live in the Midwest too. I would have to say Cascade for a large yielding hop. Tons of long cones. I have grown 4 different varieties and out of the 4 Cascade out grew all the others. That's not height either. They all grow to at least 25 feet the first year and produce cones. They will grow higher if they have the space. As far as maturing, I think they look or produce no more at 1 year then ten years. Cant stress enough that they like very rich soil and lot and lots of water and will grow a foot or more a day.. They will still grow with ok soil and little water, but to produce good they need attention. I have found out that hops grow very well climbing up a wide wood trellis ,not a single wire. I used a bunch of 1x2s and screwed them together with some criss crossing and they lasted for years even at 25 feet high. Remember it is a rizome and will travel under ground and pop up many feet away too in all directions. I still have my Tettnang variety that comes back every year, but all the other ones rotted .I still don't know why. Im thinking that I did not put mulch or leaves over them in the winter,or I did not feed them well enough in the summer. Well hope this helps a little. Im no hop pro so that's just my experience of ten years having them .
That's what I've planned for my next brew.
Yes, they will completely cover your chain link fence and will transform it into a privacy fence. The easiest way to get alot of hops is when you grow them the first year, make a shallow one inch trough in the ground, take a hops vine and lay it in the trough. Cover the vine with soil, only letting the leaves above the surface. At each node a new hops plant will grow, much like a runner with strawberry plants.
Awesome. This iz exactly what i want to do. Thanks.
