OK....the 2013 hops growing season is off to a wicked start. Atlhough all 8 of my vines are only 2nd year, I'm shocked at the number of bines per crown already!
Here's an update:
Chinooks x 2 = around 25 bines per crown
Cascades x 2 = around 20 bines per crown
Glacier = around 20 bines
Hallertau = around 15 bines
Columbus = around 15 bines
Centennial = around 10 bines
Despite being their first year last season I was rewarded with production from the Chinooks, Cascades, and the Columbus.
Here are a few pics of a few of the vines. I want to take a poll, because I'm getting mixed signals on how to proceed. Some people prefer to run multiple climbing lines per crown and allow 2-3 bines to climb each line. Others recommend choosing 2 or 3 of the strongest looking bines as the climbers and trimming ALL of the rest of the bines down to the ground to allow the crowns root system to focus all of it's attention and nutrients to just a few climbers. I would have room to run another line or two for each crown, but am afraid if I add multiple climbing lines, I'm going to run into a mess at the top with them all balling up together.
I want to know from as many people as possible what method they prefer and what has produced the best yield. I plan on spending a few hours on my hops garden this weekend, building planter boxes around each crown to keep them somewhat contained, running additional climbing lines, trimming the surrounding trees to maximize sunlight, and weeding/mulching the garden. Just want to know if I should go with fewer bines on 1 line and trim the rest back or multiple climbing lines utilizing a majority of the bines.
A couple of more factors to consider is that they receive direct sunlight for the first 1/2 of the day and again for a couple of hours in the evening, so they are not in full sun all day. I do have irrigation to them, so they receive plenty of water throughout the growing season. The soil is well draining loamy sand soil. Not sure if these factors play a roll.
As always, I appreciate any and all feedback from those that have much more experience with this than myself!
Here are a few pics.