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- Jan 23, 2008
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High winds have beaten the holy, living hell out of my hop plants over the last 5 days. Last night, Mother Nature delivered the final KO left hook. 70+mph straight line winds.
In preparation I had the thought to secure the tops of the bines (clothespins) as through the week I have been continuously re-twisting the bines back onto the lines after a days work by the wind, un-twisting them. That worked but, the high winds have now effectively stripped the majority of the leaves that were left on my weakest (mite and nutrient afflicted) plants.
Not all hope is lost yet, the two older, most afflicted have been putting on sidearms with new laef structures so, these new structures should be able to feed the rhisome.
I am considering nipping off any and all cone formations at this point to force that energy back into the rhisome for a healthier plant next year.
To be completely honest, I am just thrilled that the support systems held through such a violent storm.
In preparation I had the thought to secure the tops of the bines (clothespins) as through the week I have been continuously re-twisting the bines back onto the lines after a days work by the wind, un-twisting them. That worked but, the high winds have now effectively stripped the majority of the leaves that were left on my weakest (mite and nutrient afflicted) plants.
Not all hope is lost yet, the two older, most afflicted have been putting on sidearms with new laef structures so, these new structures should be able to feed the rhisome.
I am considering nipping off any and all cone formations at this point to force that energy back into the rhisome for a healthier plant next year.
To be completely honest, I am just thrilled that the support systems held through such a violent storm.
