What are these?

Found this on one of my first year Zeus plants. I'm not sure what it is. Any ideas from experienced growers? There are several (4-5) clumps I can see. Just on one plant.

 

This might help you out

https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=8376.0

Same plant, two genders?

Cheers

Imp

 

Yup, dem's boy parts...

Cheers!

 

What should I do with them? Or what can I do with them? Or does anyone want them?

 

Wait for them to develop into mature male flowers, remove them and collect the pollen. I can demonstrate the steps needed and would be happy to have the pollen if you can do the legwork?

Best of luck!

 

I'll see what I can do about collecting pollen. I have a busy couple of weeks coming up. PM me the specs on collecting the pollen.

 

It's pat!

Edit: upon further inspection, that's just a boy. Any cones forming?

 

Where did you get the rhizome? A brewing supplier should have only sold you girls. I've heard of ornamental hops from landscaping supply nurseries being boys

 

looking at the first pic I think I can make out cones above and below that cluster of male parts.

 

It's still a girl, just a bit butch.

Female hop plants can go "hermie" under stress conditions. And some strains are more prone to that phenomenon than others...

Cheers!

 

I have tons of cones. The bine is almost 20 feet tall and full of cones. But, there are about 5 groups of these male buds. I got them from Great Lake Hops, but I found that Zeus seems to be more prone to this than other breeds.

 

It is likely that they feel stressed due to underwatering. I've had my Zeus start to go herm a few years when I got lax on watering. As long as you eliminate the male parts to keep them from pollinating your female cones you should be okay. (Then again, I also skipped that and never had an issue.)

 

Under watering is definitely not the problem. We have had huge amounts of rain on a weekly basis going back to the end of June, when the bines were under 6 feet. The male parts are only growing along the part that is touching the back of my garage. It is also the eastward most of the bines; so maybe a lack of sun light on these parts might throw them to become male.

 

I could also see lack of sun with too much water causing them stress.
Mine are planted with full sun all day so I've only ever seen lack of water causing herm, but now that you mention it, my Zeus is at the east end of the string...