Hop to a different beat

So I've ordered some hops today. I won't get them till closer to planting season in early May.
I'm going to start out with 6; unless I come across a few different varieties like Saaz, Ultra or Crystal

I've decided to go with Hallertau, Cascade, Nugget, Stirling, Fuggle and Mt. Hood. These seemed to be a good choice for their bittering and aroma; as well alpha acid levels. I can brew a variety of lager and ales with these.
I won't likely get a good crop from these till the 2nd or 3rd year. But they can grow well over 25 feet a year before being harvested and hacked back to the root for winter. So I will be building a special trellis system for them. I'm planning on going 7 feet vertical and 10 feet horizontal; creating a covered area to put a chair and enjoy a cold beverage under.

On either side of the hop trellis I will have my grape vines. I started 2 last summer, Beta and Noir, and plan to add another 4-6 this year. Not just for wine making but freshly picked grapes are a nice snack and can also be made into juice.

I also grow a lot of strawberries, blueberries, cranberries and have 2 apple trees. Along with my rhubarb (that the neighbours dog butchered last year) I have a nice selection of fruits!


The strawberries are a crazy grower. I planted 6 plants last summer and by the end they had multiplied (with a little help) and I had well over 20 in one 5x5" raised bed. Since my wife and I both really enjoy them we might put another bed together for them. I'd love to make a strawberry wine and some jams with them this year.

My apple trees should start to really grow and blossom this year. They were both planted last year and should start producing small quantities this year. I fed them good fertiliser last year to start them right and planted a few nitrate fixing legume plants around the base. Now that the legumes are dead the roots will compost and leave lots of good tree food in the soil. Nom nom nom.
I also gave the trees a few good compost teas I made up. Compost teas really give plants a boost without the need for chemical fertilisers.

All these fruit will be great mashed up as baby food! :D

So my fruits are going to be better this year! Yea! This is year 2 of the garden. It's going to be bigger, better and bolder than last year AND since food prices are going up it will save me more money this year.