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Johnmike24 · 10-25-2007, 06:51 PM

I started my own hop garden this year. Hopes grew better then expected for the first year. Even got a few ounces of cascade hops. Now its time to cut them back. I wanted to make sure i did it right. Should i just cut them back down to the base right above the soil?

**EdWort** · 10-25-2007, 07:39 PM

Here's some good info.

http://www.freshops.com/garden.html#harvest

**bigjohnmilford** · 10-25-2007, 08:22 PM

Thanks for the link

david_42 · 10-25-2007, 11:06 PM

In the hop fields, there is nothing vegetative left after the harvest, just bare dirt. That prevents bugs from wintering over.

Madtown Brew · 10-26-2007, 12:25 AM

If the plants are already dying back, then yes, cut them down to the soil line.

If they are still green and seem to be growing, then I'd wait and let them finish out the season. Allowing them to die back naturally will ensure that the plant has stored away all the energy it can in the rhizome for next season. Cutting them early will just interrupt that process.

Definitely remove all old plant material after the plant has "died" back. As David_42 states, this prevents nasty bugs/fungi from overwintering on the remnants and reinfecting the new growth next year. This includes removing any fallen leaves from the ground around the plant site.

Johnmike24 · 10-26-2007, 12:59 PM

Thanks for the info!

Cregar · 10-26-2007, 01:39 PM

kinda off subject but can you grow hops on a apartment balcony... if so, how big of a pot should I plant it in?

**Orfy** · 10-26-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cregar

kinda off subject but can you grow hops on a apartment balcony... if so, how big of a pot should I plant it in?

Have you seen the size they grow to? !!!!

Cregar · 10-26-2007, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orfy

Have you seen the size they grow to? !!!!

Yea... I thought I could run a wire or something around the perimeter of the balcony and wrap the plant around that.

Madtown Brew · 10-26-2007, 02:57 PM

I live on a second floor apartment w/ a balcony and I've been considerimg tying this myself. No reason why you couldn't train the plant to wrap in and around the balcony rail horizontally.