Hop Production 101:
Commercial hop
yard trellis design
Hop plants are fast growing deciduous perennials that
require a strong support structure for optimum growth.
While many hop cultivars differ in their tolerance to
environmental conditions, most are grown between 35
and 55 degrees latitude. Iowa fits well within this range,
located between 40 and 44 degrees. This geographic
location provides an optimum photoperiod during the
vegetative growth cycle (spring to summer solstice) and
ample time for reproductive growth.
Plants emerge in the spring as shoots and are trained
clockwise to coir strings hung from the yard’s support
structure (trellis). Once trained, hop bines grow vertically
until summer solstice. Within seven days of summer
solstice, hop plants respond to the increasing darkness
by initiating non-twining lateral branches which produce
female flowers. These unpollinated female flowers develop
into cones containing the lupulin glands which contain
the bittering and aromatic components (a-acids, b-acids,
essential oils, and tannins) that are essential to brewing.
Prepared by Diana R. Cochran, assistant professor of horticulture and extension fruit specialist, and Bryn Takle, graduate
assistant in horticulture, at Iowa State University.
Each fully mature hop plant can add up to 30 pounds of
biomass per plant (cones, leaves, and bines) to the trellis
each growing season. To ensure the added weight of
the growing plants do not cause the trellis to collapse,
poles and wire must be selected from material that can
withstand this added weight.
The site selected to hold the hop yard should be large
enough to include the 20-foot-tall trellis and rows spaced
wide enough apart to allow specialized equipment to enter
the yard without destroying the trellis or damaging plant
material. Most commercial hop yards are designed to
represent a checkerboard pattern. This provides a structure
that should withstand both environmental conditions
(i.e. wind) and the crop load. To create the checkerboard
pattern, the top wire runs the entire length of each row
and then perpendicularly across each row to form a
checkerboard pattern. Information on how to build a hop
trellis is detailed below.
Plot layout – Trellis design and pole placement
A commercial hop yard is built with two different sized
poles: end poles and line poles. End poles are larger
in diameter (6-7 inches) and placed in the ground at an
angle (65-70 degrees) surrounding the entire perimeter
of the yard (Figure 1). Line poles can be slightly smaller in
Ex. 196 ft. x 252 ft. plot
Rows spaced 14 ft. apart
Row length = 252 ft.
HORT 3051B December 2016
diameter (4-5 inches) and are placed perpendicular to the
ground (vertical) within the hop yard. These angled end
poles will centralize the weight and tension to the outside
of the yard.
The first step is to measure out the proposed yard to
determine the total field area. The example below shows
a hop yard that is 196 feet wide by 252 feet long. The
rows are spaced 14 feet apart and each row will be 252
feet long. At 14 foot spacing between rows, 30 angled
end poles will be needed, 15 along the north and 15 along
the south side of the plot (remember perennial plantings
typically run north to south). Along the east and west
perimeter angled end poles will be spaced 28 feet apart
for a total of 16 poles, eight along the east side and eight
along the west side.
Each end pole should be placed in the ground at a 65-70
degree angle, to a depth of 10 percent of the entire pole
length plus two feet. For instance, if you have a 24 foot
pole, 10 percent of the entire length equals 2.4 feet plus
two feet. This means you will bury 4.4 feet of pole in the
ground. Post are buried in this manner to ensure long-term
stability and to avoid frost heave during winter months.
The holes should be almost twice as wide as the diameter
of the pole to allow for backfill and tamping. Concrete is
not necessary when installing the poles, but backfilling
with coarse gravel and tamping is recommended.

A telehandler or excavator with a 360 degree grapple placing large

12-14” diameter poles in the ground at a 65-70 degree angle.
Diagram of angled end poles. Each 24’ pole is placed at a 65-70
Remember, end poles are placed at an angle along the entire
degree angle with 4.5 feet in the ground.
perimeter of the plot thus the hole should be dug at an angle.

Spacing the line poles

The next step is to set the line poles. Having angled end
poles along the perimeter will force tension to the end
poles once the top wire is set. Therefore, line poles can be
spaced at 56 feet within the plot. Use string or surveying
equipment to create a north-south line in Row 1, excluding
the perimeter row. Once the line is marked, measure
56 feet starting at Row 1 from the north side of the yard
and make an X. Continue measuring and marking 56 feet
intervals until reaching the end of the row. At the end of
the row there should be 28 feet from the last line pole to
x x
>
the south angled end pole. Repeat this step for each row,
> x x x x
alternating start points from north to south as depicted in
x x x x >
the example at right.
> x x x x

Line poles are spaced 56 feet apart within row until the end of the
row, then there is only 28 feet from the last line pole to the angled
end pole. Repeat this step for each row, alternating start points.

2 HORT 3051B December 2016

Line poles are spaced no more than 56 feet apart within a row if using a checkerboard pattern. The pole should be placed in the ground to
a depth of 10 percent of the total pole length plus two feet. At the end of the row, line poles will be spaced 28 feet from the angled end
poles, alternating from north to south as depicted above.

Setting the line poles similar fashion as the end poles, only vertically. Use a level
Once the location of the line poles have been marked, it is or plumb bob to ensure they are straight. After setting all of
time to install them. Each line pole should be installed in a the line poles the plot should look like the example below.

Holes can be dug with a post-hole digger or auger. Depth of the

hole should be 10 percent of the entire pole length plus two feet
Diagram of line poles. Each 24’ line pole is placed vertically in the and width should be almost twice as wide as the diameter of the
ground. pole. Remember, end poles are placed at an angle thus the hole
should be dug at an angle.

3 HORT 3051B December 2016

Installing the top wire
A high-tensile strength wire must be used in order to
support the full weight of the mature hop plants. Typically,
1/4” galvanized aircraft cable is attached to the angled end
poles around the perimeter. Use at least 5/16” galvanized
aircraft cable to connect the line poles. Barbed bine wire
(1/4”, 1 × 7 strand) is another option to connect line poles.
Commercial yards typically string their hop plants in a
v-shaped pattern. This requires two line wires to be strung
the entire length of each row. First, start on the north end
of the yard by tying a line wire to the perimeter wire, three
Wired hop yard (aerial view). One cable around the entire perimeter
of the hop yard and two cables strung the entire length of each
row.
Using a come-along and a wire tightener, run the top wire down
each row, one row at a time. Next, run the wire across rows to
complete the checkerboard pattern. Once the top wire has been
tightened on each row, it is time to tighten each end pole.
4 HORT 3051B December 2016
feet from the center of the row on the western side. Run
this top wire the entire length of the row (north to south).
Next, tie the second line wire to the end wire three feet
from the center of the same row on the eastern side again
running the entire length of the row. This gives six feet
between the two top wires on Row 1. At the end of each
row, tighten each top wire to the end pole using a come-
along and a wire tightener, secured with cable clamps.
Finally, run a top wire across each row (west to east) to
form the checkerboard pattern.
Holes are drilled near the top of the line poles for either eye bolts or
to run the top wire straight through the pole.
Earth anchors are placed at each end pole. Each earth anchor
should be at least 48” in length.
Install guy wires and earth anchors
Guy wires add to the stability of the entire structure by
tensioning the end poles. Install these by attaching one
end of the wire to the top of the end pole with cable
clamps. The other end will be secured to a turnbuckle
and an earth anchor. The positon of the earth anchor can
increase the strength of the system. Ideally, the anchor will
be positioned so the guy wire forms a 45 degree angle to
the top of the end pole. Similarly, the earth anchor should
be installed at an angle so it is in line with the guy wire.
The turnbuckle will allow you to adjust tension as needed.

Guy wire is attached using cable clamps, from the top of the pole to ground level. Wire is tightened at ground level using a turnbuckle
attached to the earth anchor. Guy wires form a 45 degree angle between the ground and the tip of the end pole. Once the installation is
complete, re-check connections and tension the turnbuckles to ensure a tight, secure and safe structure. The yard is now ready for hop
plant installation and for production to begin.
>
>
>

Plan view of a completed commercial hop yard.

2

5 HORT 3051B December 2016

 } 56 ft {

Elevation view of a completed commercial hop yard.

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