Hop problem

Conan785 · 07-19-2009, 06:06 PM

I have two hops plans in my garden currently. One is in its second year and is the one I am concerned with. I had fair growth in the first year. This year I dropped on a good bit of manure and topped with mulch for weed control. Everything started great and it quickly grew to the top of my 12 foot trellis. Then I noticed the leaves browing and curling under. I did some research and found that aphids were my problem. I use some insecticidal soap and aphids are gone. Its been a week and the problem continues. but not it seems my problem are these little green bugs. They are about 1-2 mm long and fly. I shake the bine and the fly off and right back on. I stepped up the assault and went with a garden insecticide. The bugs are now all dead.
My concern not is the health of the entire plant. All of my older larger leaves are dead, dying, or severely damaged. I do have lots of new growth but I was hoping to get some usable cones this year.
The plant is in a full sun area of the yard. I also have in on a drip irrigation system that waters the plant every other day for 15 mins.

My second plant is doing pretty good. It's like the bugs only went after one.

Any ideas on what I can do to help out my older plant? I will do a soil test today and see what the reading are but they should be good. Any help would be appreciated.

Conan

Conan785 · 07-19-2009, 06:46 PM

I tested the soil. PH was around 7ish. Nitrogen was low which surprised my with the pile of manure I dumped on. Potassium was high and phosphorus was low. Any suggestions on what to add to help? any suggested fertilizers?

mpersinger · 07-19-2009, 09:17 PM

What variety are the two plants (are they the same)?
No expert here, but you may count the infected one as a loss this year; cut it to the ground and remove as protection for the other.

Conan785 · 07-19-2009, 10:59 PM

Not the same plants. two different varieties. I am not sure if they are sick or malnurished at this point. I put done some fertilizer to give them a show of nutrients. I will give it a week if no improvement then I may consider removing one.