Hop Cones
Hop cones are forming from the hop burrs nicely. It looks like it will be a staggered hop harvest which is ok by me. The Cascade hops are the most mature and abundant followed by the Magnum and the Nugget hops are still burrs.
Nugget Hop Cone Burrs
From spiney hop burrs to hop cones, this is what it is all about. These hops are loving the sunshine and thriving. I can’t wait to see what they will do next year!
Baby Magnum Hop Cones
I am definately going to use a different hop trellis system next year. The hop bines are not producing lateral shoots and cones where they are wrapped around the hose hangers. It was worth a try but not producing any additional hops cones.
Baby Cascade Hop Cones
I will be doing more research this fall and winter for hop rigging / hop trellis ideas. Trying to figure out an easy way to spiral the ropes and provide additional hops bine length for my limited vertical area I have along side of my garage.
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Tagged with: cascade hop cones • hop • hop cones • hops • magnum hop cones • nugget hop burrs
Filed under: Beer Hops
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Looking good. I just posted on my blog abut my hops. Can you give me some advise?
Stuart,
I stopped by your blog and commented on some possible help for your hops. Hope it helps.
Sure did. I am thinking of moving the middle one to the garden on top of our hill.
Cool. I am with you – move the center crown (after the bines die back). that will give your other 2 hop plants room to grow.
After the bines die back?
That is when it is safest. I have heard many stories of bines being broken off during transplanting – usually smaller bines going from indoors to outdoors. It probably doesn’t matter much as you probably won’t have a harvest from that one this year. As a matter of fact, you may be better off doing it now before the crowns/rootstocks/rhizomes get tangled up. Worst case you are out a rhizome – plant another next spring (before May). Let me know how it goes. Best of luck.
Hi, I’m curious about growing hops next year. I have access to lots of acres (anywhere from 20-80) in Grand Rapids, Mi. I’m thinking of growing some, but I have NO experience. What would it take to get started? Is the climate there acceptable?
hey growing hops . nice work on the first year harvest. looks like it’ll be quite solid. I think the soil prep is key too.
as you know my first years are struggling. the nuggets are now up to 63″, followed by zeus at 45″ and fuggles at 42″. my goldings seem to be struggling the most and are under 3 feet.
i was wondering if you know anything about cuttings. the last few bines i pulled out (1 zeus and 2 nugget) were really strong, so i threw them in water to let the roots grow and the zeus is doing really good. lots of longish rootlets forming. am i wasting my time, or will i be able to develop a free rhizome out of these? i plan to stick them in some really light soil in small pots and see how they do, but i’m just wondering whether there’s enough time left in the season to get a rhizome that will re-produce more bines next spring….any thoughts?
cheers
Jay,
You have nothing to lose by trying. A lot of what I have read says by burying bines, will produce rootings(as well as placing in water). I have no experience as how well they grow the next year – as good as a sizeable rhizome? I would assume they would not have as much energy stored as a thick rhizome, but as it would be a first year hop plant, it might not make that much difference. Who knows, they may grow a reasonable rootstock or crown in the time left this summer.
It won’t be much effort or time to try and see. I would definitely be interested in your results. Keep me posted.
Torquepeak,
Generally speaking, to grow hops you need to be between 35 – 55 degree latitudes, 120 frost free days and up to 15 hours a day sunlight – I believe Grand Rapids, Mi fits into that criteria.
By mentioning the acreage, I am assuming you are talking about growing them commercially. I don’t have any experience with large scale hop growing but here are a couple of links that may help:
http://www.uvm.edu/~pass/perry/hoplinks.html
http://beerbits2.blogspot.com/2007/10/hops-growing-resources.html
http://www.freshops.com/hop-growing/
http://www.oregonhops.org/culture1.html
Do some searches for university agricultural info on growing hops…
I’m so happy to find your blog. This spring I planted hops for the first time, and I don’t know what to expect. Thanks for including the pictures. Our trellis is made of smooth wood (salvaged 2×4s)and the bines are falling back on themselves. Do the bines need a rougher wood to climb on or rope?
There are some cones on the bines, but nothing like what is in your pics, and no lateral shoots. I planted Cascade and Willamette.
Not sure if 2×4’s work well with hop bines – may be too big around. The fact that they are smooth may not allow the bine hairs to hook into the wood. I would do constant training of the bines around the 2×4s and/or find a way to string twine or rope and start to train the bines on that. Rope seems to work best, small diameter and allows the bine hairs to dig in to hold on.
I have been fortunate with my first year hops. I did prepare the soil the previous fall and I believe that has a lot to do with how well they are doing. They also have a southern exposure and receive direct sunlight most of the day (good also).
Hope this helps. Best of luck and next year will be even better!
Very informative… thank you. This is my second year and the vines have absolutely gone wild. They have grown over 24 feet in length and have moved up the side of the house and onto the roof. I am interested in HARVEST information. Mid August here in Oregon and I have both Nugget and Magnum hops. Do I keep watering the plants? The hops are full, still soft, and papery. Is this the best time to pick? And do I separate them from the vine by hand or just shake?
Sorry for the questions. Any information is appreciated. Thanks from Portland, Oregon.
Congrats on your second year hops! Sounds like they are healthy and going crazy (like they do when they are healthy). As long as the hop bines are still growing or producing hop cones, I would keep watering them. Do the hops squeeze easily and bounce back to the original shape? They should squeeze easy and be papery feeling and light and slightly lighter in color when they are ready to harvest. You can also pick one and cut it in half and you should see yellow lupulin.