Hops

[bagman]

Saw some "wild" hops this morning growing in a hedge along side the road whilst crawling along in the car as some cretins futher along had had a bang.

I have only ever seen this cultivated futher south never growing wild anywhwere?

Aside from its obvious and extremely important "food" useage in beer is it good for anything else?

[Ed]

The young shoots (when just sprouting) can be prepared like asparagus or used as a pot herb...... normaly a spring time food :-D

Ed

[sez]

Dried and put into pillows they're supposed to help you sleep.

{Oh yeah, THAT'S useful}

Sez

[bagman]

sez - should that not be "dried and put into beer they help you sleep" :-D

[longbow]

check out uses for hops at
http://www.egregore.com/herbs/hops.html#Properties