Paulasaurus

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Thanks! I wasn't able to get the crowns into the ground immediately and I think my Zeus took the most beating and have yet to see any signs of life from it. In fact the 3 bines that were coming up have drooped and turned brown so its not looking good. But i'm not giving up, they are exceptionally resilient and no matter what you do to them its only likely to piss them off which results in them coming back even stronger.

I am expecting a harvest this year but not nearly what it will be next after they've gotten used to their new home. The soil is a bit sandier at the new place so drainage will be good and i'll continue to top off the mounds with top soil as it settles and washes away. I'll keep this thread updated with pictures as the season goes on.

Paulasaurus

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Here's a picture of one of the Cascade bines, most are the size of my pinky and look like something out of a Burton film.

BWN

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I see in your first few pics you had them go up then grow horizontally. Did that seem to work ok? I am planting for the first time but am hesitant about putting up a huge tower in my backyard.

Paulasaurus

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It worked ok but it took a lot of training and I could tell that growth slowed a bit. They want to go up, straight up and will try to do so no matter what. I'd say the steeper angle in your rope the better.

Check out Gridlocked's "Hop project" thread, he's been growing a Chinook plant along a chain link fence for the past few seasons with good results. He stays on top of it and trains the bines back down constantly but it produces very well. You can also see his hop garden in Brewing TV's episode 44 -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfR7MUxhwQE

Gridlocked

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I have two plants on a chain link fence and they do well.

The Chinook below is the larger and more aggressive of the two.
The pic is nearing harvest last year - it's 2nd year.
Harvesting on the fence is *SWEEET*

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Sweetcel: "try this, it was dry-hopped with a lot of climax."

Paulasaurus

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Finally an update!

The hops are finally starting to take off with the stable weather that we're finally seeing here in MN. The Cascade is trained and has now climbed to 4'. The Centennial has also trained 4 bines and the Chinook and Columbus are getting there. My Zeus also busted through the soil with 8 or so bines so that plant has survived the transplant and is back with a vengeance. Really, these plants are beasts, what couldn't they survive.

Here's the Cascade starting up the ropes. Leaves finally opened up a little too. Maybe the neighbors will get the idea of what is going on with the giant wooden structure soon enough.

JohnnyO

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Wow. The one in the forefront looks like an absolute monster!

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Fermenting: Nothing
Drinking: APA, My Own Personal Helles
On Deck: American Wheat

Paulasaurus

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That it is. The Cascade is my oldest plant and now in its 4th year and the rootball was absolutly massive when I dug it out. Bines are finger sized

JohnnyO

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I have bine envy. Mine are only two years old, and only their first year in the ground. Had them in planters last year.

__________________
Fermenting: Nothing
Drinking: APA, My Own Personal Helles
On Deck: American Wheat

Paulasaurus

Recipes 

I have Fuggle and Nugget 2nd year plants in planters and they resemble 1st year plants. My 2nd year Chinook and Zeus that have been in the ground are twice the size as the hops in planters. Your plants will love being in the ground, next year you'll notice they'll be much happier and larger from the get go.