What's eating my fuggle hops?

Fuggle, one of the oldest English hop varieties, is particularly susceptible to hop aphids and downy mildew, and spider mites are a recurring summer problem. In UK gardens, aphids and mites share dominance. Verticillium wilt is a disease concern specific to Fuggle. Rabbits may strip young bines in spring. Aphid management protects both plant health and cone quality.

Dense pale green colonies on shoot tips and within cone bracts; honeydew and sooty mold contaminate cones; winged forms spread to neighboring plants. Introduce Aphidius matricariae or lacewings; apply insecticidal soap or plant-based neem oil; avoid over-feeding with nitrogen; remove and destroy heavily infested shoot tips.

Fine pale stippling on leaves, progressing to bronze; webbing visible in hot dry spells; early defoliation weakens the plant and reduces yield. Raise local humidity with misting; release predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis); use miticide as a last resort; avoid dusty, dry conditions around the crown.

Shot-holes in expanding leaves at the start of the season; heavy attacks stunt early shoot development. Protect emerging shoots with fleece; apply kaolin clay; cultivate soil around crowns in late autumn to expose pupae.