[sladefungus]

I used to live in Italy where hops grows everywhere like a weed.  Before moving back to the UK i wanted to bring a plant home so made a note of where a nice female plant was growing and then dug up the rhizomes in the winter.  After 2 years growing in the UK, last year it had no flowers and this year it only has male flowers!  Im 99% certain I got the female rhizomes but confused as to why it is now only producing male flowers.  Is this possible and will it change back once it is a bit more happy and established and gotten over our colder summers?

[john_lincoln]

Hi, yes, hops can change sex from female to male. Try the web site beertoday and search for sex change hop surprises Hog Back brewery. They've had a Farnham White Bine that has changed, and apparently once this starts in a garden it can spread to other bines. Cascade, apparently is also one that can change. As you know hops are dioecious and need both a male and female plant to set viable seed and most hop gardens/hopyards, hate it if a male starts to fertilise their hops because brewers want seedless hops. Your hop won't change back! And if you have more hops around, you may find they change too. If you want cones you'll have to rip it out and put in a new female. BUT ... who are we mere humans to dictate the lifestyle choice of a hop plant? If they choose to change gender, well, so be it. Normally when hops change it is due to stress, so it may be the move that has caused this to happen. Hope this helps.