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You are here: Home --> Forum Home --> General Forum --> Chitchat --> Working on a homebrewer's garden

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uberg33k
Charter Member
The Internet
314 Posts


So, I'll be working on a homebrewer's garden post in the near future, but it's time to start planning these things out now before spring hits.  I've already got many varieties of hops going and a passion fruit vine.  I was thinking about sweet woodruff, sweet potatoes, maybe pineapple sage, and maybe chamomile.  I'd like to do some sour cherry trees or nanking cherries, but that'll have to wait until we move.  What herbs/fruits/vegetables would you like to see in a homebrewer's garden?



Posted 34 days ago.

ingoogni
nl
314 Posts


Myrica gale.
Wallnut for the leaves
Meadowsweet
Heather for the flowers




Posted 34 days ago.
Edited 34 days ago by ingoogni

uberg33k
Charter Member
The Internet
314 Posts


Oooh, nice one.  I'm not sure it's hardy in my zone though.  That might also help ward off Japanese beatles from the hops.  I hate Japanese beatles with a passion.

Edit : I was referring to sweet gale.  I see you added more.

Walnut is definitely not happening where I live.  I'll have to check the hardiness of the others.




Posted 34 days ago.
Edited 34 days ago by uberg33k

chino_brews
Charter Member
Eden Prairie, MN
301 Posts


  • Juniper (branches and berries)
  • Sage, which you already have on the list (great in saisons)
  • Spruce (for the tips)
  • Wild blackberries





Posted 34 days ago.

uberg33k
Charter Member
The Internet
314 Posts


Nice suggestions, chino. I have a source for blackberries up on the mountains, so I might skip growing them. Definitely look into some juniper. Not sure if spruce is hardy in my zone.



Posted 34 days ago.

mutedog
Washougal, WA
29 Posts


Rosemary
Labrador Tea
Licorice
Thyme
Mint
Rhubarb
Elder
Birch

Where are you going to be sourcing most of these? I'd like to grow some of the traditional gruit herbs if I could.




Posted 34 days ago.

uberg33k
Charter Member
The Internet
314 Posts


Local nurseries mostly, although I might start some from seed.

I was thinking I'd try to do as much of this in containers as possible because I want other people to be encouraged to try even if they live in an apartment or whatnot.




Posted 34 days ago.

ingoogni
nl
314 Posts


Ginger is one you can grow in house, many of the herbs mentioned above can. Mint (Mentha genus) is one you can get in many flavours like apple/pineapple and grows well in the moist climate of a bathroom window. Melissa with it's lemon aroma may be another one.

Common Dandelion is a nice one for a Wit. In spring pick the yellow part of the flowers before they open. Roots can be used for bittering. Roots of cultivated Chicory can also be used for bittering and it's easy to grow in a bucket in a cellar or under a bucket.

Iris, the roots are slightly bitter with an aroma of violins. Calamus root slightly bitter warm herbal aromatic. Burdoc/Arctium the roots, strong warm sweet licorice like.

Caraway (Carum carvi) the seeds go well in dark rye beers.

A method of finding interesting plants may be to pick the aromatic compounds of hops and search for plants that also have them. For example Linalool is present in hops in relative small amount, but there's a lot of it in Mirica Gale.

Edit: Forgot my beloved parsnip. Excellent for light ales, max. 50% of the grist by weight. Chop fine and boil'm long. Then everything with water 'n all in the mash tun with the simplest possible grist, mash long, make sure it converts completely. Low bitterness, low (noble)hop flavour. May use pectin enzymes to clear. Very subtle taste.





Posted 34 days ago.
Edited 34 days ago by ingoogni

BrewerBrad
Oklahoma City, OK
66 Posts


How much land are you working with?

If you have a couple acres why not set up a bee hive? Fresh honey!




Posted 34 days ago.

uberg33k
Charter Member
The Internet
314 Posts


> If you have a couple of acres 

Oh man, that's rich but it also makes me a little sad.  To own several acres of land around here is a 7 figure (possibly 8) investment and I don't have that kind of money.  I would love to own that much property and be able to have a proper garden, but I don't see that as something that'll ever be possible.  I do love the idea of having my own hive and would gladly write about it should the opportunity ever come up.  If anyone knows of a rich investor that would finance a move to the country to conduct brewing experiments, put me in contact with them ASAP.

As to your points ingoogni, well taken.  I had completely forgot that ginger was on my list of things to grow.  Not only can you get the root, but affords the opportunity to possibly cultivate some ginger beer plant.  Tell me a little bit about your parsnip ale.  I remember reading a few recipes from the 1700's that mention using parsnips for beer.  What does it taste like?




Posted 34 days ago.

blur_yo_face
Houston, Tx
161 Posts


owning land on the internet is getting expensive..



Posted 34 days ago.

mutedog
Washougal, WA
29 Posts


You don't need many acres to have a hive, my neighbors have a hive and they probably have a quarter acre lot or so.






Posted 34 days ago.

uberg33k
Charter Member
The Internet
314 Posts


Tell me more about this quarter acre hive.  That's really interesting...



Posted 34 days ago.

tracebusta
Charter Member
Somerville, MA
155 Posts


Check your local laws, too. I work with someone who lives in the same town as I do, and he has a hive. All you have to do is go to the city hall and watch a presentation (or something) about bee keeping, then you get a permit to keep bees. There really are no large lots in this city, 1/4 acre around here would be gigantic.



Posted 34 days ago.

Matt
Charter Member
Normal, IL
341 Posts


Gary, hives take up no room. I don't have a hive (living in an apartment) but my SOs family has always had them and I plan on having them, they don't take up much room at all and they are pretty awesome! Hives themselves don't take up much room, plus the honey will have some local flavor! 



Posted 34 days ago.

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