My hops

[HogieWan]

I just recieved a package from Freshops.com with Liberty and Willamette jumbo rhizomes. I can't wait to get them in the ground this weekend (maybe sooner). I also might have a rhizome of Cascade from a certain Virginian that posts here (a lot) on its way.

[Tyrantus]

i just used Liberty for an apple beer (I know.. I know..) and it was pretty good (the hops). Nice flavor/aroma!

[SoxyinMO]

Two weeks ago I planted 2 Williamette; 2 Kent Goldings; and two Cascade rhizomes...Today I have 6 holes in the ground and a Border Collie who thought that was really cool, the way I buried those little sticks for her. :rolleyes:

[DecoJuicer]

Soxy, have you considered a shock collar??;)

I have yet to put mine in the ground. This being Michigan, I thought that I would wait until mid-April to make sure that we don't get another frost. I have got 5 varities and a place for them all. WoooHooo.

I've got me a good bb gun to keep the varmits away.

[Payson]

My Cascade is now experiencing its second growing season and it's about 5" tall. This should be a good harvest! :D

[Grog]

My plants from last year are just now poking through the wet soil. Only problem I have is that the map to my hop yard was on my computer and was lost in the crash. I have no idea which plant is what!!!

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Grog
My plants from last year are just now poking through the wet soil. Only problem I have is that the map to my hop yard was on my computer and was lost in the crash. I have no idea which plant is what!!!

Just before harvest, you may need to buy some commercial hops of each variety and compare aromas.

[HarkJohnny]

mine are just poking up as well! woohoo! second year so I'll have fresh hops this year.... grow! grow! grow!

p.s. anyone use any kind of plant fertilzer on your hops?? miracle grow or something like that.

what about additives to your lawn like a scotts 4 step... could that have any ill effect?

[HogieWan]

I've read that fish waste is a great fertilizer, so I'll be cleaning the aquarium more often now.

[HogieWan]

I got my Liberty and Willamettes in the ground last night. Fingers are crossed. I bought the Jumbo rhizomes, so maybe I'll get enough hops for at least a flavor/aroma addition.

[Payson]

p.s. anyone use any kind of plant fertilzer on your hops?? miracle grow or something like that.

The addition of mushroom compost makes the soil ideal. (or so I was told) My hops seem to agree!

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by HogieWan
I got my Liberty and Willamettes in the ground last night. Fingers are crossed. I bought the Jumbo rhizomes, so maybe I'll get enough hops for at least a flavor/aroma addition.

Hogie, Hopefully you will receive the package today with some of my Cascade rhysomes. My wife dug and packed them whilst I was sitting in my chair all doped up on dilaudid for kidney stone pain. So I'm not sure what she sent or how many rhysomes. Let me know when you get them.

[corkybstewart]

I replanted my Liberty along my old horse fence where they'll get sun all day long. I also split the 2 rhizomes into about 6 , each of which already had a couple of shoots coming up. I also split the Cascade and Nugget rhyzomes. It's absolutely amazing how big they got after 1 year in the ground. So this year I'll have 4 each of Cascade and Nugget, and 6 Liberty. Ought to be plenty of hops in September.

[HogieWan]

corky - that IS a lot of hops

Thanks again Chaz (or Mrs Chaz). There's plenty of room for those Cascades.

I'll be posting pics in this thread as soon as there is something to take pics of. I guess I could do a "before" picture.

[corkybstewart]

You'll understand next year Hogie, when the hops start taking over your yard. Ialso gave 4 rhyzomes to an employee here so he could start growing, not for the cones, just for the vines.
I'm lucky to have lots of space. I sold my horses a year ago(happiest day in my recent life)so I have a 120' X 185' horse pen to do with as I like. I've planted a few fruit trees and the hops are growing up the side of the barn, and now along the fence.

[HarkJohnny]

Originally posted by HogieWan
I got my Liberty and Willamettes in the ground last night. Fingers are crossed. I bought the Jumbo rhizomes, so maybe I'll get enough hops for at least a flavor/aroma addition.

I bought a jumbo cascade last year and though I was a bit late (2 weeks or so) in planting them I had no flowering of any kind. It reached not quite 5 feet with three solid vines.

[chazwicke]

Just wait until this fall Hark. Cascade seem to do the best. Mine are over a decade old. I'll post some pictures again this year as I made my structure higher. ( It's about 14 - 16 feet high now.)

If I can find the old thread with last years picts I'll post the link.

[chazwicke]

This is a picture of mine from June last year. They will grow higher this year.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Hogie, Hopefully you will receive the package today with some of my Cascade rhysomes.

They did, ideed, arrive today. They will be planted in a few short hours.
Big thanks, again.

[Mad Scientist]

Sheesh, somebody, please share!

My hops I planted last year did not turn out well at all, and (as I said in other posts) got torched from the San Antonio. I gues I might give it a shot again in the future.....

[corkybstewart]

It's much cooler in Midland than in Boerne, I'm sure you'll notice the difference.

[Mad Scientist]

Yeah, but I did not take the rhizomes with me:(

[corkybstewart]

Next year when I split my rhyzomes I'll drop you some, assuming they survive the summer. BTW, I've got another meeting in Midland Monday or Tuesday, so I'll give you a call.

[Mad Scientist]

Cool, I'll chill some green stuff down....

[HogieWan]

Here's the before picture. Sorry for the blur - This was a "night shot" with the shutter open for 5 seconds.

[chazwicke]

In a few years they will grow together and you will not be able to tell which from which. See my picture above. That is showing only half the width.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by chazwicke
In a few years they will grow together and you will not be able to tell which from which. See my picture above. That is showing only half the width.

By then I may eliminate one or two of the varieties. I want to see which ones I'll be using the most of. I will try to tame them at first, but I have my doubts bout that.

Or I could move them to another area of the yard. We'll see . . .

[SoxyinMO]

Originally posted by DecoJuicer
Soxy, have you considered a shock collar??

naw, I decided to cage the hops instead...at least until they start growing.

[SoxyinMO]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
You'll understand next year Hogie, when the hops start taking over your yard. Ialso gave 4 rhyzomes to an employee here so he could start growing, not for the cones, just for the vines.
I'm lucky to have lots of space. I sold my horses a year ago(happiest day in my recent life)so I have a 120' X 185' horse pen to do with as I like. I've planted a few fruit trees and the hops are growing up the side of the barn, and now along the fence.

Sounds great, Corky...I just told my husband he could build a grotto so I think that trying to reclaim anything outside the yard will be impossible :(

[HarkJohnny]

http://www.harkjohnny.com/images/cascades.jpg

here's mine from tuesday night... just poking through about 2 inches high

this morning at 7am they are already over 5"

:D

[freyguy]

I got mine from freshops on Tuesday and they went right into the ground. I planted two Goldings and two Liberty. I've been drinking a good bit of DFH India Brown, and the recipe calls for dryhopping with both varieties, so I figure it's a good match. Only prob I saw was that the Goldings rhizomes hardly had any sprouts, where the Liberty had several, some over 1" long. I hope they turn out alright. So far I've added some cow compost when I tilled the soil, then added Miracle Grow Garden Soil when I planted.

This is pretty fun already. :D

Great looking hops too Chaz.....amazing how fast they grow.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by HarkJohnny
http://www.harkjohnny.com/images/cascades.jpg

here's mine from tuesday night... just poking through about 2 inches high

this morning at 7am they are already over 5"

:D


Thanks for that pic hark - I've been curious what they'll look like when they pop up

[HarkJohnny]

Originally posted by freyguy
[Bamazing how fast they grow. [/B]

you ain't kidding! i'll try to take another pic very soon. they are up to almost 8 inches!

[corkybstewart]

I took a picture on Tuesday when my Cascades were shoulder height. Today(Friday) they are way above my head, and my Nugget have gone from peeking out to 2 feet tall. They really love the heat we've had lately. We'll see how they do at 110F

[chazwicke]

Here are a couple of pictures from two weeks ago. THey were just about 8 - 10 inches. Now they are 20 and are climbing the netted structure that I have.

[chazwicke]

And in this one, I think you can see the bottom of the net. This is a new taller structure this year. But what I normally do is leave the old vines when they are cut off at ground level each fall for the next years shoots to climb on. Although this is a new taller structure, I will have a wall of hops that make a nice screen as well as produce plenty of hops.

[Stingo]

I have Nugget, Cascade, and EK Goldings and are all about 20"+ on the second season of growing. Located in a southern Chicago Suburb. Between all three plants last year (their first) I had about 2 oz of hops. This year I expect poundage!

Forever fresh hops!!

:D

[chazwicke]

It was warm and sunny here this weekend. My hps have vines that are now approaching 5'.

[HarkJohnny]

here's a pic I took Friday night

http://www.harkjohnny.com/images/hopsday6.jpg

i'm going to be doing this all year and will continue to post on my site. clicky the www button below to visit ;)

[PCaravan]

Had a big hail storm last night. Not big enough to do any appearant dammage to our cars or our house but many of the leaves and nearly every bud on all my hop plants are gone.:(

I counted three budded plants out there... all three on very short plants. I guess I more or less get to start over.

[chazwicke]

:( Hope they survive this year. I'll bet that they'll come back next year in any case. Mine are growing like crazy. I'll try to take a picture to show my new higher structure.

[corkybstewart]

Mine got severely beat to crap by hail about 6 weeks ago, now I have some that are 10' tall. They'll probably come back.

[HarkJohnny]

Don't worry too much Pcar... i remember reading that a pruning (or something thereof) of the buds when they first come up results in a larger yield. you may be in luck yet!

[PCaravan]

Oh I'm not really worried about them... I know they'll come back but I didn't want to loose the growth I had.

HarkJonny, I hope you're right... that would be great.

[PCaravan]

Update,

I now only have one hop shoot about 2 inches high (Cascade) that appears to be alive. All others, including those that appeared to still have a bud on the end are wilted and more or less gone. And the 2 inch Cascade doesn't look to good either. Boy, I hope some new sprouts come up soon to ease my mind.

[corkybstewart]

I hope this doesn't make you cry, but I've got hops cones already growing on my Cascades, and the bines are already 12' tall. If I can figure a way I'll post the pictures(the file size is too big for here I think). I'll be harvesting cascades within 3 weeks I bet.

[Dead_Eye]

Originally posted by HarkJohnny
p.s. anyone use any kind of plant fertilzer on your hops?? miracle grow or something like that.[/B]

A commercial hops grower advised me not to use Miracle Grow as it could be tasted in the hops. A granulated surface fertilizer was recommended instead.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
I hope this doesn't make you cry, but I've got hops cones already growing on my Cascades, and the bines are already 12' tall. If I can figure a way I'll post the pictures(the file size is too big for here I think). I'll be harvesting cascades within 3 weeks I bet.

Yeah, it makes me cry.....:(

[PCaravan]

Yeah, it makes me cry. My one battered living shoot is still struggling to recover and hasn't grown much since the storm last week and I have no new shoots yet either. Considering how quick and the amount of shoots that came out when I first planted them I'm beginning to think it's done for.

[corkybstewart]

As they didlast year, my Liberty plants are struggling. Some of them came out quick and have stagnated, some just never came out, and I think one is history. There are no cones yet on the nugget, but the Cascades are prolific.

[HogieWan]

My Cascades from chaz have 4 or 5 small shoots barely poking out of the ground. My liberty has one lone skinny shoot and the willamettes are still hiding.

[corkybstewart]

Hogie I think it'll be to hot for the Willamette. Mine never came up at all last year. How big was the rhyzome from Chaz? Once it gets started get out of the way, it'll pull a Jack and the Beanstalk on you I bet, especially with your rainfall.

[HogieWan]

actually, what I got from chaz what substantially smaller than the other two. I was actually a bit worried.

I don't expect to get much of anything for cones this year as they all establish roots, but it would be nice to get an aroma and/or flavor addition out of them.

[HarkJohnny]

Originally posted by Dead_Eye
A commercial hops grower advised me not to use Miracle Grow as it could be tasted in the hops. A granulated surface fertilizer was recommended instead.

awesome... thanks for sharing!

both mine are approaching 2 feet with many vines growing out of each.

[HogieWan]

apparently what I thought to be grsy weeds was my willamettes - they have come back fter both times I plucked them. :D

[corkybstewart]

Adversity will only make them stronger. Pluck'em again Hogie. LOL It's amazing how much abuse they can take, isn't it. Unfortunatley my Willamettes never came up at all.

[DecoJuicer]

I haven't even got mine in the ground yet. The last frost day here(the day when all of the nurseries recommend planting) is May 15. So I will wait another 3 weeks.:(

[corkybstewart]

Your last frost day is May 15??? We've been in the 90's for 2 weeks. I've put my jeans away until November, May 15 I'll be in my pool with a growler of Imperial stout nearby, watching my hops grow.

[DecoJuicer]

I'm going to pee in your pool on May 14!!:p

[corkybstewart]

Bring cherries.

[PCaravan]

My hail abused hops are still in recovery... I hope. I gently poked around at the dirt where the hops shoots used to be and it looks like there may be one willimette shoot trying to come out but nothing on the cascade yet. Before the hail storm, the willimette was my healthiest looking plant. Though it took longer to get started, it was taller and greener than the cascade before the storm took them out.

[HogieWan]

give em time

RDWAHAHB

[corkybstewart]

Keep the roots well watered-not soggy, but moist ad they'll come back bigger than ever. Even while you watch the tops do nothing those roots are expanding.

[HarkJohnny]

posted another photo... you can now follow the progress all year via this link:

http://www.harkjohnny.com/hops.html

I really need a trellace or something for these things... it's gotta happen in the next couple of days too!

[Mad Scientist]

Nice pics Hark, be sure to share of you have a good harvest.

[HarkJohnny]

Originally posted by Boerne Brew
Nice pics Hark, be sure to share of you have a good harvest.

i'm sure I will... however I already have a friend, brother and cousin asking the same! All of whom I introduced to homebrewing :)

I even asked for one of those food vacuum thingys for christmas last year... planning ahead : )

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by HarkJohnny

I even asked for one of those food vacuum thingys for christmas last year... planning ahead : )

Good idea - I found a food dehydrator in my in-laws closet and immediately asked if I could have it. It now sits on a shelf in my garage (I couldn't keep it in the house, but I could keep it:))

[corkybstewart]

I'v worn out 2 of those vacuum sealers in the last 6 years. I use them all the time, I keep mine on the counter next to the microwave. But they'll depress you when you use it for whole hops-they compress paper thin and it looks like the package is empty. They spring back when you open the bag so it doesn't do them any damage.

[DecoJuicer]

Mrs. DecoJuicer wore one out 2 years ago. She called the company even though the warranty was up, and they sent her a reconditioned one that still works great. They didn't even charge us shipping.

[corkybstewart]

Every September I buy 2 bushels of green chile and vacuum seal them 4 to a bag. I also tend to smoke twice as much meat as I need, or fill the grill and I vacuum pack the leftovers, When I'm brewing, I vacuum pack partial bags of hops to keep them fresh. I really do use mine a lot, like the infomercial said I would.

[corkybstewart]

That dehydrator won' be much use Hogie, you can't get enough hops in it to dry a small harvest. I built stackable bins out of 1X4's and stainless steel hardware cloth bottoms for drying. Each bin is 2' square and will hold a bunch of hops. In The Homebrewer's Garden there are directions for building something like this and using an old hair dryer to circulate warm dry air through your hops. I don't need to do this because it's so dry out here I put mine in the barn and they dry in one day. It won't be an issue for you this first year but judging how mine are doing their second year you better start planning on a big harvest next year.

[DecoJuicer]

Good Eats(on the food network) had a show on drying herbs a couple of years ago. I imagine it would work for hops also. Here's how it works:

Get about 4 furnace filters(not the fiberglass kind) and a box fan. Put your hops in the valleys(low parts) of the filters. Stack the filters on top of each other with an empty one on top. Use Bungee cords to attach them to the box fan on the side that blows air. Turn it on high and let it go until they are dry.

This does a really good job with herbs, but I haven't done it with hops. Hopefully I will get a chance to try it next year.

[corkybstewart]

What's a furnace? Just kidding, but my furnace filters are flat on both sides.

[DecoJuicer]

Something like this. I know that the non-fiberglass ones cost a little more, but you can re-use them.

Furnace Filters (http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/filtrete/415_micropart.html)

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
That dehydrator won' be much use Hogie, you can't get enough hops in it to dry a small harvest.

From what I understand (I'm probably wrong, though) not all the hops will be "ready" at the same time. So harvesting in batches is the way I'll go, I think. I also hope to make a big, hoppy wet hop ale every harvest.

[Mad Scientist]

Nice...a wet hop contest...makes me drool...

[corkybstewart]

The first year you'll probably be able to use the dehydrator, but after that, judging by mine so far, you'll pick them in pretty substantial batches. Fresh cones are very bulky. They don't weigh much but their volume will surprise you. You'll fill a dehydrator 2 or 3 times a week at least and not end up with 2 oz of dried hops.

[HarkJohnny]

Originally posted by DecoJuicer
Good Eats(on the food network) had a show on drying herbs a couple of years ago. I imagine it would work for hops also. Here's how it works:

Get about 4 furnace filters(not the fiberglass kind) and a box fan. Put your hops in the valleys(low parts) of the filters. Stack the filters on top of each other with an empty one on top. Use Bungee cords to attach them to the box fan on the side that blows air. Turn it on high and let it go until they are dry.

This does a really good job with herbs, but I haven't done it with hops. Hopefully I will get a chance to try it next year.

hmm!!! not to mention that you throw one of those puppies in the furnace after your hops are dry and the WHOLE HOUSE will smell of delicious fresh hoppiness!

[Mad Scientist]

That is the best idea I've heard all week

[corkybstewart]

I think this link will take you to some pictures of my hops:
http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/corkybstewart/
Give it a shot

[Mad Scientist]

Jealous, jealous, jealous.....

[corkybstewart]

I've got a few Liberty bines "growing", but I use that term loosely-the biggest is probably 2" tall.

[Mad Scientist]

With all those hops, do ya'll use them for dry/aroma hopping, or do you bitter with them?

[corkybstewart]

I don't know, this will be my first real harvest. I'm sure I'll do both, I'm looking forward to dry hopping an IPA with the Cascade, but otherwise I'm not sure yet. I'll probably be dropping off a sack at your place in June.

[Mad Scientist]

My mouth waters at the though corky, I can't wait....

Sheesh...What the heck did I do? I commented the other day about post # 800....this is # 900!

[PCaravan]

holy cow, you've been busy... I remember your 800th post not more than a few days ago!

[Otis_The_Drunk]

Corky, you could send me a sack of those fresh hops if you don't mind. :D

[DecoJuicer]

I finally got my hops in the ground today. What a friggin chore.

It started out as, "Gee, I only have to dig 5 holes, and I'm done." Yeah right. The first 3 holes went really easy. The East Kent Goldings went in in about 3 minutes. I dug my hole, fillied it halfway with gardening soil, dropped in the rhyzome, and filled it the rest of the way up with gardening soil. The Saaz went in just as easy. When I got to where I put my Cascade, I hit a few roots from the tree that I cut down last year, put they weren't a really big deal.

Then I got to my 4th spot...my Horizon spot. I realized that if I planted the hops there, they wouldn't get any sun because of the large...something...that was way overgrown. Decision time. Even though my grandma had loved that mess of tangled leaves and sticks, I needed a place for my hops. The birdies will have to find some place else to annoy me from.

The 5th spot, my fuggles was a complete washout. It was in shade even at 3pm. I was also really tired from hacking out the bushes in the back of the yard, so I found a spot that gets pretty good sun, and is near the fence, and there is where I planted. We'll see what comes up.

[HogieWan]

I still don't think my willamettes have done nything yet, but the liberty are poking through. And the cascades are doing what everyone says cascades do - coming out everywhere

[mookow]

Is it too late for me to order and plant some Cascades? Even if I dont get anything from them this year, would they survive and produce some cones next year?

[DecoJuicer]

You're only a couple of hundred miles south of me, and technically, the last frost date here is May 15(I planted early). I don't see why you shouldn't be ok. From what I understand, they don't bear cones the first year anyway.

[chazwicke]

some of my shoots have hit the 14 foot mark. They are all coming out quite nicely.

[HarkJohnny]

getting bigger!

http://www.harkjohnny.com/hops.html

[corkybstewart]

I'll be harvesting Cascade today after work, or maybe at lunch. I'll post pictures later.

[HarkJohnny]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
I'll be harvesting Cascade today after work, or maybe at lunch. I'll post pictures later.

already?!! bastard! :D

[corkybstewart]

Kind of took me by surprise too. And these are just off the verticals, the lateral branches are just starting to take off. My bnes are now over 12' tall. Also as I've had more shoots come up, I break them of the main root and replant them. Most of them have survived so next year I may have to quit my day job just to pick hops.

[corkybstewart]

Here's a set of pictures from last month until today.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/corkybstewart/hopsandstuff049.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/corkybstewart/hopsandstuff051.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/corkybstewart/hopsandstuff048.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/corkybstewart/hopsandstuff026.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/corkybstewart/hopsandstuff027.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/corkybstewart/hopsandstuff018.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/corkybstewart/hopsandstuff015.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/corkybstewart/hopsandstuff014.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/corkybstewart/hopsandstuff007.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/corkybstewart/hopsandstuff006.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/corkybstewart/hopsandstuff002.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i188/corkybstewart/hopsandstuff001.jpg

[chazwicke]

Amazing picts! I don't usually get cones until later.

[HarkJohnny]

so beautiful... i can almost smell them!

[Mad Scientist]

Grrr....:)

[choreboy]

I planted some cascade around Easter and did not see any sprouts for a couple of weeks- then we left for vacation and came back to about three two inch tall sprouts with several leaves. I blame my slow start on the crappy weather here in Chicago- it was only in the 40's yesterday. Why do I live here?

[HogieWan]

My Cascades popped out quick, but the growth slowed big time. The Liberty waited but are starting to take off. They are starting to out grow the cascades.

[2pigs]

I just planted tettnanger and willamette in the ground about two weeks ago, after reading how everyone is kicking ass growing hops.

My problem is New England has been pounded with rain for over a week. I don't see any growth since I moved them into the ground.

Could all the rain hurt my hops?

Should I move to New Mexico? Looking at those pictures I noticed a spare horse trailer in the back yard at corkys house. I'll work for beer on the farm if its ok.

[corkybstewart]

i sold my horses and now I use the old horse barn for growing hops-the trailer belongs to the neighbor. But I may need a hops farm hand next year so I'll keep you in mind. And don't think it doesn't rain here-last night we got almost 2 tenths of an inch, as much as we've had all year long. But I fel for y'all in New England, that's a hell of a lot of rain in such a short time.
At lunch today I harvested 6 oz of Cascade, about 1/3 of the cones that are already growing on the Cascades main bines. I figure the rest will be ready by Friday, I'm letting them grow as long as possible to get the most lupulin out of them. But the laterals are just starting and they have cones growing on them so it won't be long before I'll have Cascades everywhere, and the Nuggets are starting to show some cones. I'm still cutting the extra shoots that are coming up everywhere and replanting them so they develop into new bines. A word of warning: hops are an invasive species, they'll soon take over my barn.

[mookow]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
A word of warning: hops are an invasive species, they'll soon take over my barn.

My grandmother is planting a new garden, and I'm considering asking her to plant some hops in there. Could I string the vines laterally around the garden? It is fenced in with chickenwire around the perimeter to keep out rabbits, and I think I could weave the vines in between the wire...

[Otis_The_Drunk]

I believe that I may plant some rhizomes next year here.... I was growing Cascades when I lived in California, but haven't planted any since I moved to Texas.

Now to figure out which hops I want to plant, Cascade willl be one of them, but what else?

[corkybstewart]

I tried a chicken wire lattice for one of my plants last year and the plants wouldn't weave very well. It's as if they didn't like touching metal. I tried this year with a copper lattice I had for a flowering vine next to the house and the bines avoided it like the plague.

[Otis_The_Drunk]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
I tried a chicken wire lattice for one of my plants last year and the plants wouldn't weave very well. It's as if they didn't like touching metal. I tried this year with a copper lattice I had for a flowering vine next to the house and the bines avoided it like the plague.

Very interesting observation.

[chazwicke]

I use netting. There are plastice and rope netting that works great. Although I do have some wire and they climb on that too. I don't think weaving laterally would work all that well. hops grow to 20 feet if the have something to climb. remember when you are training them to climb to wind them clockwise. They will follow the sun from east to west. Anothr think I often do is leave the old vines when I cut them at ground level each year. The next years growth will also use them to climb on.

[Lupulinitus]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I use netting. There are plastice and rope netting that works great. Although I do have some wire and they climb on that too. I don't think weaving laterally would work all that well. hops grow to 20 feet if the have something to climb. remember when you are training them to climb to wind them clockwise. They will follow the sun from east to west. Anothr think I often do is leave the old vines when I cut them at ground level each year. The next years growth will also use them to climb on.


I planted Cascades 6 summers ago. The first couple summers I attached two 2X4's straight up from my four foot fence 8 feet apart and put a 2X4 acroos the top and hung ropes six inches apart. Since then I have not put the 2X4's up and the vines grow down my fence laterally. The other weird thing that happened this year is about 3 feet from where I originally planted the roots one is growing out of the ground and runs about 1 1/2 feet along the fenceline with plenty of vines growing out of it. For you guys that just planted them be patient for a year or two, and don't plant them close to the neighbor's flower garden.

[2pigs]

Corky, thanks for the job offer I may take.

I was thinking these plants were going to take off like a rocket after reading how everyone else is doing so I put up a telephone pole 14 feet above the ground with a seven foot 4x4 near the top just high enough so it doesn't look like a KKK rally. (that would be a big problem in my hood) So with three lines hanging to the ground and no vines yet, it sucks.

Does talking to your plants work, because yelling hasn't yet?

[Lupulinitus]

I forgot to put that the first year there were only a few vines. The second year, maybe 30. The third year and still to this day they are out of control.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by 2pigs
Corky, thanks for the job offer I may take.

I was thinking these plants were going to take off like a rocket after reading how everyone else is doing so I put up a telephone pole 14 feet above the ground with a seven foot 4x4 near the top just high enough so it doesn't look like a KKK rally. (that would be a big problem in my hood) So with three lines hanging to the ground and no vines yet, it sucks.

Does talking to your plants work, because yelling hasn't yet?

I don't have any currently, but once they go, they'll fly. My last vines grew about 10 to 14 inches a day, it was amazing

[corkybstewart]

A quick update, no pics yet but maybe today. It looks like I'll be harvesting Cascades continually starting this week. I have cones, lots of them, that are ready, and cones in every stage of development. Right now I'm guessing I'll harvest a couple of gallons worth tomorrow. Just in time for some fall IPA type beers.
My Nuggets have vast amounts of small and tiny cones so they're a week or so away from being ready. The lateral growth on these has been amazing while I was away. It also helps that it rained a little while we were gone.

[Payson]

My cascades are huge now and covered with yellow lupulin-y goodness! Might pluck some for a batch this weekend!

[HarkJohnny]

mine are still not doing too well. they only get sun about 2 hours a day because the neighbors giant tree is in the way! :mad:

they're maybe 6 feet with no flowering (yet, maybe)

[Otis_The_Drunk]

Originally posted by corkybstewart
A quick update, no pics yet but maybe today. It looks like I'll be harvesting Cascades continually starting this week. I have cones, lots of them, that are ready, and cones in every stage of development. Right now I'm guessing I'll harvest a couple of gallons worth tomorrow. Just in time for some fall IPA type beers.
My Nuggets have vast amounts of small and tiny cones so they're a week or so away from being ready. The lateral growth on these has been amazing while I was away. It also helps that it rained a little while we were gone.

Let us know if your going to have too many.

[chazwicke]

I have not looked closely at mine in the past week. I had a new temporary structure that was much higher this year. My wife took down my old one last Fall one weekend when she was doing yard cleanup. :rolleyes: So we built the new higher one but it was only meant to be temporary until I could figure a better way to make it sturdy and 20 feet high. The improvised one was about 16' and my old one was 12'. Anyway, we had a big storm come through and the winds bent my temporary one in half. My hops grow in an area that is about 15' wide and they had completely filled the structure like a screen. so it was like a huge wall or sail of hops and the wind just snapped it right in half. Most of my cones were growing along the top and I have not looked at the fallen top half to see how they survived. All I know is the vines appear to be still green and growing.

[Thirsty in NY]

Yeah, let us know if you have too many hops. We're here to help our fellow brewers.

[PCaravan]

My hops never fully recovered from the hail storm. I had 2 independent Cascade shoots that came up shortly after the hail storm last spring killed all the shoots that were out of the ground. Both of the 2 shoots have continued to grow slowly with the tallest about 6' but no other shoots have come up since. The tallest one now has about 6 healthy looking cones on it and the growth tip on it turned into a cone so it won't be growing any taller I guess. I'm hoping for a rebound next year.

[corkybstewart]

Keep watering and feeding them. Even if they don't look too good this year the roots are growing wild underground. Next year, hops.

[untothee]

Use SuperThrive.
I do Bonsai and this stuff is amazing. It isn't a fert or food but a growth hormone. No harm to the plant or to you (can be used garden vegetables/fruit). You can find it at Wal-mart, Home Depot, Lowes and most Nurseries. About $7-10 for a 4 oz. bottle depending on where you get it. One drop per gallon...I use half a cap.
It is awesome stuff.

[PCaravan]

Yeah, I keep taking care of it hoping for next year... I have hope...

Hell, given the climate here in West Texas, the temperature may stay warm enough here long enough that I may get a little before the year is done, well see... I think this year is shot though. Also need new rhizomes to replace my crystal and willimette.

[mookow]

This is my first year with hops, and these got in late. Anyway, I didnt trim the vines at all, so it has come in rather bush-y and short. I'm going to give it some lines to crawl upwards just to see how it responds, but I doubt this is going to grow over 5' tall this year. Next year... we'll see. I'm going to move one of them an extra 2' away from the other next year. Which may stunt it's growth next year, but it will help it in the following years.

Speaking of putting in lines, though, how far away have you guys been staking the lines from the hops? And what are you using for stakes?

[corkybstewart]

As soon as I planted my rhyzomes I put the stakes within a few inches of them so they wouldn't have to grow much before they grabbed the string. And my stakes are a mixed bag of whatever was laying around. I have some wooden corner stakes, re-bar stakes, and even one old tent stake.

[chazwicke]

I use a garden netting. They grow well on it. I usually leave the vines after I have cut them off at root level for the new vines to climb on next year.

[Mill Rat]

My anchors are a four-foot length of aluminum flat stock bent into a one-foot square with the gap between the ends of the stock in the middle of the bottom side. The top side is twisted 90 degrees so it is vertical, and has 7 holes drilled in it for tying twine to it. I put them in with about the top three inches exposed when I planted my rhizomes. By now they're probably entangled with roots. I start with three strands of twine for the early vines, and add two more strands at two and four weeks after the first vines start climbing. I get about a month of good hop production that way.