Friday, 27 April 2012

Hops, Maples and salads

The Golden Hop (Humulus Aureus) is beginning to take off. I grow it mainly as a fence-covering, using it to obscure some of the less-than-lovely larchlap fence panels.


The plant dies down completely in the Winter and I remove all the old dried-up stems. In the Spring it starts all over again. It is very vigorous and the stems grow several metres long in the space of a couple of months. I try to train then along some wires, but they have minds of their own and they usually end up in a complicated tangle.


A point to note though: Golden Hop spreads very easily and puts out very strong almost rope-like roots, so it is hard to eradicate it if you change your mind. I reckon it's best to dig up a bit of it each year in order to ensure that it doesn't get too well-established.


The other day I mentioned that seeds of my Bronze Maple tree are germinating all over the garden. These develop into very attractive little seedlings, so I have potted-up a few - "just in case".... Just in case of what, I'm not really sure. I can't see myself planting another maple tree any time soon, but maybe a friend would like them?




Elsewhere in the garden the Baby Leaf Salad is coming on nicely, growing in one of the wooden wine boxes that I got from Majestic Wines:





This salad is a Californian Mix from Sutton's. The pack doesn't list the contents, but it evidently includes Rocket, Spinach and various types of Kale. I think the spiky one might be Red Russian Kale.


I think it's time for me to sample it now. I just have to decide what to have it with it. What do you recommend?

15 comments:

  1. Poached eggs and Prosciutto with crusty bread.

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  2. I love those wine boxes, they look great with salad leaves growing in them.

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  3. I did not grow my normal red Russian kale this year and decided to try dinosaur kale. The dinosaur kale does not seem to be growing nearly as well for me. :(

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  4. I like the wine boxes too. They are so pretty.

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  5. Great salad growing containers you've got there!

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  6. Go on try some bonsai! Treat it as a challenge. Maples make lovely bonsai

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    1. I was just given a bonsai tree today. My boss gave it to me for National Administrative Assistant week, lol. I love it. Never had one before.

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  7. Those wine boxes are great - looks liek a good salad mix too.

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  8. How about a nice spring risotto with some peas for extra flavour?

    Really envious of those wine boxes-must try and hunt out some myself...

    I would love one of those bronze maples seedlings-just not sure how to get it from you to me!

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  9. Hi Mark,

    Ive been given a rooted piece of golden hop. For the exact reason you mentioned, Im thinking of growing it in a pot.

    Will it do ok do you think?

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    1. I don't have any experience with growing hops in containers, but I expect it would be OK if you used a large container. You would probably have to re-pot it every year, because the roots can get very big.

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  10. Yep definately some sort of Italian ham.

    Hope they were delicious.

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  11. Your golden hop looks lovely in the sunshine - sunshine, what's that!

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  12. I like the salad mix in the wine box. It very classy looking.

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  13. You are sure right about the hops being invasive! I think one could it plant in the ground surrounded by a bottomless bucket. The micro greens looked wonderful. I'd use them as a garnish for fish, but as you don't care for fish....

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