OnTap Magazine

Common wisdom tells us that South Africa does not have optimal hop-growing conditions. Hops typically grow between the 35th and 50th parallels, ideally needing a very long summer’s day. But South Africa has boasted hop farms in the Outeniqua region since the 1930s and as local beer culture continues to grow, so too does interest in cultivating hops in the most unlikely of locations. Gert Van der Waal started growing hops on his north Pretoria farm in 2018 and has since become a guiding light for other budding South African hop growers. Here he shares some tips for those just getting started. FEATURE HOPS AT HOME A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO GROWING YOUR OWN 24 | Autumn 2022 | ontapmag.co.za