Remove trays from Box or Pallet and space out in a location where you get shade during the 2nd half of the day. What works the best if you can is to place the plants on a hay wagon and leave them out in the sun for a few hours and then move the wagon under a barn for shade. You only need to do this for a few days so the plants get use to the environment. As a min. I would request giving them at least 3 days with day one giving them 3 hours of sun and then 5 and then 7. After that you can leave them out all day.

When you receive your hop plants, water them regularly to keep the plants moist until planting. Keep out of harsh sunlight to avoid burning the leaves. Try to water early in the morning or Late in the day when it cools. Watering during the day in the sun may burn the leaves early on and stress the plants.  Hopyard soil samples should be taken prior to planting, and all soil amendments should be made prior to planting the hopyard.

Plants are generally spaced 3 – 4’ apart along a linear row in a well tilled soil. Generally, 3’ 6” planting width is recommended to allow for adequate air flow between mature hop bine vegetation, which inhibits plant diseases. However, certain hop varieties have shorter sidearms allowing for more
compact planting.

Dig a hole twice the size of the plant’s root ball, and place the plant in the hole so that the top of the plant soil line is even with the hopyard soil level and backfill with surrounding soil. A granular fertilizer, such as an All Purpose 12-12-12 fertilizer, can be sprinkled around the plant (approx. 1 tablespoon per 4“ pot) to give the plant a start. We use a product called Osmocote that would last the whole season for the first year.

Be sure to water the plant well after planting. Water each day for at least a week to allow the plant’s roots to establish.  When you notice the plant putting on new growth and adjusting to planting shock, you can begin an ongoing fertilization, irrigation and pest management schedule to ensure continued healthy growth.  Refer to your state’s hop growing organization and/or university agriculture programs for recommendations.