Hops

[csgray]

When we where growing hops at our place in the Willamette Valley of Oregon we found they were a wonderful host plant for Ladybugs, even the rare Oregon native Ladybug (black with orange spots). The Oregon commercial hops industry was wiped out by a vicious black mold that just melts plants and if it finds it way here could be a real problem. Because that part of Oregon gets no real rain for July, August and September the black mold would strike right at harvest time if there was an early rain. Puna gets more regular rainfall so I would guess your microclimate would really matter for commercial production. Its a beautiful plant though, and worth growing as a beneficial bug host.
Carol

carol