Pearsaml,

My experience with hops is in the ground--this is my fourth year. Hops have such big roots that I didn't want the struggle of trying containers.

Five gallons seems too small to me. I imagine both your plants have filled their pots with roots--they might be less vigorous this year than last. They will need the roots pruned and be moved to bigger containers for next year.

Hops are fun to grow (and beer is fun to drink if that is your purpose). Good luck. The second year for mine they ran about twenty feet up a little makeshift trellis I put up; I never had anything grow like that.

red_chucks