Comments on: Rigging Hop Bines Without a Hop Trellis

By: Growing Hops

Growing Hops — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:41:12 +0000

Still alive and kicking! I recommend a pulley system for ease of harvesting and easily re-raising the bines allowing the bines to continue storing energy post harvest for the crown / rootstock (especially first year hops). Although my experiment showed very little hop cones production on the loops of hop bines. The hop cones mostly appeared above the hose hangers I looped them on (about where they would naturally occur). Although I did achieve bine length 6 - 8 feet longer than without, the results showed no additional hop cone harvest. I am interested in trying a spiral approach. I have not figured out how I want to achieve this yet. I want an upward angle steep enough so I would not need to train the hop bines daily to stay on the ropes, especially when they are above reach without a ladder. If I figure something out I wish to try this year, I will post it on the blog. 2010 second year hops should rock - posts and pics will be coming! Thanks for the inquiry!

By: wiscobiscuit

wiscobiscuit — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:54:54 +0000

Hope this link’s still alive. Starting to plan for my first hop plant (probably looking at a Willamette, fwiw) and I’m really intrigued by your pulley system. Did it work as hoped, producing crazy-long bines by paying out more rope?

By: Growing Hops

Growing Hops — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:53:50 +0000

Generally, yes, you harvest all at once. That is the beauty of this setup. The hop bines can be gently lowered, hop cones picked and if some are not quite ripe, raised again and allowed to mature. Kind of a Juan Valdez thing – “we shall pick no hop cone before it’s time” – ok, dating myself here. It’s from an old Folgers commercial regarding picking coffee beans. Having your own hops allows you to pick the finest hop flowers at their peak maturity for the best damn beer or ale in the world (assuming you have homebrewing skills).

By: namabeer

namabeer — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:04:17 +0000

hey good idea .
I am wondering , when harvesting , do all the cones get harvested in one go , or are they harvested little by little as the cones come into maturity , like berries .

if you need to harvest several times over a period of time , then I imagine you will have to be very careful not to damage the plants at the base as you lower them and raise them . a group effort perhaps .

really interested to hear a follow up !

By: Growing Hops

Growing Hops — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:57:16 +0000

Unless you have male hop plants or local male hop plants, they should not be cross pollinating. Even if they did cross-pollinate, they will retain their original variety and only new seed from the cross-pollinated hop cones, if allowed to grow, would become mutts. My experience is only female rhizomes are sold (unless you specify otherwise – only a large scale grower may attempt this). If you started from seed, then you would have issues with male plants. Just like an Amazonian female tribe or a marijuana operation – kill the males (I read that in a book ). There is the possibility that the rhizomes, if planted too close together, may be intermingling but retaining their variety – just mixed bines.

By: DobroD

DobroD — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:17:00 +0000

This is the second year. Started with Chinook, Hallertau and Willamette but they are cross pollinating like crazy so they are just mutts now. Since each plant is either male or female guess you should only plant a single variety in the same area to keep varieties pure.

I learned that after planting them : )

By: Growing Hops

Growing Hops — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:32 +0000

DobroD – NICE. Great setup and healthy to boot! How long have they been established? What varieties? I look forward to seeing pictures as they fill out and load up with hop cones.

By: DobroD

DobroD — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:03:41 +0000

My hops just went nuts over the past two weeks. I have a walkout basement with a deck above and just the right exposure. I can observe and harvest them them from the deck. Really works out great! I just put some new pics up on grillandbarrel.com

http://grillandbarrel.com/2009/05/up-up-and-away/

By: Stuart

Stuart — Tue, 26 May 2009 20:29:56 +0000

I like that idea. I only have about 10 feet so maybe I might try this method as well.

By: Growing Hops

Growing Hops — Sat, 23 May 2009 13:30:05 +0000

Thanks, just trying to utilize a small space and get the most bang for the buck. Your hops will catch up, water every day until they are established. Compost tea is excellent for any plant, your hops will be happy. 19 rhizomes / 8 or 9 varieties, you sure are ambitious! I would like to see pictures of your setup. Triangular shape? teepee style or cabled together at the top and ropes from ground to cable? Best of luck to you.