I did a quick search but didn't really find anything specific - Does anyone have any experience with potting rhizomes for the first year and have any advice as to what size pots are best (or at least small enough to not be detrimental)? Any absolute minimum sized pot? Thanks

The bigger the better, the rhizomes can get very big even in the first year. Also, keep in mind that they are going to require a lot of attention as far as watering goes in pots.

At the very minimum I would go with a 12" pot.

I agree. You can't get a big enough pot.
Also, when the time comes be sure to harden them off by introducing them to cold and wind very gradually. I lost quite a few plants by putting them directly in the ground from my warm, sunny window.

Ahhh.. Yes, good point Matt.

check out this article

http://www.byo.com/component/resource/article/1926-growing-hops-in-containers

I gave my neighbors rhizomes two years ago and did pretty well, you need to give them plenty of water though.

thanks for all the great input - that byo article was exactly what I was looking for. Thats a good thought too, about being careful of going from pot to ground

I did this last year before I build my hop fence. I used 15 gallon plastic container (cheap ones at walmart or target for storing clothes) just drill a bunch of holes in the bottom and fill it with good soil +humus/manure and they will grow like the dickens. I started mine out in these from April till june then I transplanted them to the new location and the entire container was full of roots. see pics of someone else's here: http://www.brewboard.com/index.php?showtopic=71818&st=15

I've done it but found straight to earth the first year is best, but some of us don't have the space.
I went with red cedar when I made my boxes. 14in sq. with a removable bottom so the next year the plant can be easily removed and planted into the soil.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w249/wapilot55/cascades.jpg

Due to limited amount of time to build some nice cedar boxes (those look nice WApilot), and limited money - I bought 18gal rubbermaid storage containers and drilled holes in the bottom. Filled em up with good soil and hopefully they will take off pretty well, we'll see how it works

WApilot - are those a bunch of rhizomes planted in each box? That would seem pretty dense for one pot, but it is kinda hard to tell from the smaller photo...

Yep, about 4-5 rhizomes per box. But they filled out nicely and provided a good little sun shade cover for the steps off of back porch( http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w249/wapilot55/hopb4harvest.jpg ). It was a lot and I had rough up the soil the next season when I moved them into the earth. One great advantage about doing this route is the ease of getting more root cuttings when out of the planter boxes.
Watchout for mold, even with holes drilled. Plastic doesn't breath but if you watch your watering and soil saturation, I don't see ya having any probs. Good luck.

Thanks for the tips WApilot. Do you think it might help drainage it I raise the bins off the ground, sitting on 2x2s or something like that?

On a side note - about how long have you guys noticed it takes from planting to being able to see any sprouting?