Did I pick these hops at the right time?

[Hiphoppity]

Did I get it right? Too early? Too late? Thanks for your input!

-from a Cascade plant, 2nd year.

 

[VikeMan]

They look ok to me. What's the texture like? And how do they smell?

 

[Arminius757]

Generally, there are three methods I use to figure out if the hops are ready:

Feel: do they feel papery, springy? I know this is hard to describe, but they shouldn't feel "wet". When you squish them, they should sound rustle. Gently part the cones. Do you see lots of yellow powder and is the powder golden?
Color: A little browning is good IMO.
Smell: This is probably the biggest one. Young hops tend to smell like garlic and onions. When it closer to the time I expect to harvest, I will smell the cones daily. You really do start to notice a difference! Over time, the garlic dissipates and you start to get the characteristics of the hop (citrus, tea, earthy, hay, grassy)

Those look good though

 

[sibelman]

I have found guidance in the size of the yellow lupulin glands -- cut a cone open every few days as they're approaching ripeness and see how they're doing. They get larger as the cones "ripen."

 

[T Murph]

They look right, now you need to dry them within 24 hrs. You can do that placing them on a screen or a/c filter over a box fan. They will dry in 16 to 24 hrs this way.

 

[sibelman]

@Murph4231 is right. Also, it works OK without the fans but perhaps slower -- probably depending on temperature and humidity. Once they're dry, ideally vacuum-seal and freeze 'em.

 

[T Murph]

@sibelman added the next step. Yes vacuum seal them then freeze them untill brew day.