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The spent grain is low carbon and should be considered a "green" material. It also likes to clump, causing aerobic conditions. Together, these can create a big stink. Unless you have leaves laying around, mixing it with the already started compost is the best way to go.

New sprouts! Yes, these are from the same batch of seed that was started back in February Some of the seeds germinated in the first week. Over the next few months many more popped up. After a long lull, I threw the remaining seed in a tray and set it aside. So, I was pleasantly surprised last...

Interesting... That's one way to sort out which have the most vigor. How do you plan to separate the survivors next year?

I am not an expert, but these do not look virus related. Viral infections are usually systemic and will display symptoms on large sections of the plant. The leaves are often the place to look for symptoms and diagnose the type of virus. On a plant that large you are bound to have some physical...

Yep. This yard was specifically set up for the first years. They are less than 6 months old. You're very close on the view. These hops are out in Estacada, about an hour from my house in Portland. They are on a steep hillside facing west toward the Clackamas river - which eventually feeds...

On the 4th, we visited the other hop yard, where all the first-year plants are. I was pleasantly surprised. The soil here isn't that great, and it's been a month since my last visit. I came armed with fertilizer and ladybugs, but they weren't needed. Most of the 80 plants are dark green. Many...

Congrats ffaoe. It's a boy!

Looks like the plant decided it wasn't time to dedicate resources toward flowering and went back to the main growth phase. I wouldn't worry, as long as the main plant is still growing strong.

The second year plants all have burrs, but two of them are really showing off - thousands and thousands of cones starting to form. This one is NHB015 (Magnum x Cascade). With a little luck, each of those fuzzy-lady-parts will turn into the same beautiful cones I saw last year (below).

Edit: sorry, below I was referring to the 2nd pic. Didn't realize that was posted as an example by someone else (view on my phone was a bit wonky). ---- I don't know the cause, but those are undeniably male flowers. Some varieties are prone to throwing male flowers. My cascade does it almost...

Stopped by the hop yard last night and found that many of the plants are starting to display their sex. I pulled a few of the obvious boys, but will need to go back next week for a closer inspection. Doing my best to keep the cones from getting pollinated - as I'd like to get some chemical...

For first time growers, I like to say: "If you think that they're ready, it's still too soon". As others mentioned, moisture content is the best way. However, on a young plant, with limited cones this can be difficult to test. They should be dry, smell like hops, starting to brown a bit, and...

Didn't limit the number of bines - the one on the end just looks that way, since the first two bines were so large. They are probably bulls, but I'll let them go for this year. You'll notice that the second one is just getting started. All the conditions were the same, but it stayed dormant...

I also visited my 2nd year hops a few evenings ago. Too dark for good pics, but the sidearm growth looked promising. I topped the ones that had reached the top of the trellis. My hope is to keep them untangled for ease of sorting/testing.

Can't see the second photo, but I wouldn't panic. Hop leaves, especially on young plants will vary quite a bit. Color, edge pattern, and number of lobes per leaf can look quite different on same variety - or even the same plant. Where did you get the rhizomes from?

The larva are aphid death machines as well.

I'd love some. Will PM you my address. Can you tell us where you got this one from? Those little pods will soon open into tiny orchid-like flowers. You can shake the pollen onto a plate - or - cover the cluster with a paper bag and give it a good shake. You may want want to cover the...

How about:

So... a prolific male, of noble English descent... seven gone, making him the 8th... Can I name him Henry?

Would be interested to know where you got it. Was it from seed?