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Yep, I've ridden all through and around the Healdsburg area as well. Some great roads out your way. I have wondered what happened to the hop industry here in California.

Honestly, saving money was never the reason I wanted to grow hops. I thought it would be fun to grow my own and brew with them. When it's stops being fun, stop doing it. That's where I am right now.

I just harvested my hops for this year and because of the low numbers I've decided not to waist any more time and effort growing hops. I've been growing them next to the house (stucco). They started out great this year with very long side arms that were full of buds. Then, it was very windy...

Here are my Cascade in front and Chinook in the back. Just the Chinook.

You can have more than one bine on string. I wouldn't put more than three per string.

I use a PYRETHRUM spray. It's organic, works fast and breaks down quickly.

The first year is all about getting the roots established. You might get an ounce or two. It looks like your plants are doing well. They need to grow up or out. You might think about putting the pots on the ground and letting the bines grow up and along the rail of the deck. The pots you...

You'll be fine this year, maybe next. But you will need to transplant them into a larger pot. I use half wine barrels.

The Chinook came up at the same time and I trained them as the bines got long enough. Same with the Cascade but with the Cascade it sprouted early and then stalled for a few weeks. Then when the bines got long enough to train I trained them.

I know that most of the usable hops that come from mature plants, come from side arms, but why are my other three and four year old plants not producing side arms? I have been very disappointed with my Cascade the last couple of years. I really expected more this year.

I have four Hop plants. Two Chinook, one is a forth year and the other is a third year and two Cascade, same ages. My forth year Chinook is going really strong with side arms growing like crazy. Non of the other plants have side arms, only stems with flowers starting to grow. What's the deal...

As many others this year I have a couple plants that have started growing early. One plant has bines over a foot already but it only has about six shoots. Should I cut the first growth?

I too have sprouts about two inches tall. I know commercial growers trim their new growth when it's about a foot tall. Should we be doing that?

The weather here has been so nice the last month or so my hop plants have already started sprouting. I went out to check on the last week and discovered quite a few sprouts. Some over two inches long. So I went out there with my trimmers a cut them back.

I have mine in half wine barrels. Two third year and two second year. The third year plants have quite large crowns that I think wouldn't be suitable for a long planter. Not only that, the root system of the hop plant will travel a long way. So if you're going to grow more than one variety...

I have a foodsaver machine. I've had it for several years and it works very well. We use it all the time. Costco sells them for around $150 and has a large box of refill bags as well (don't remember the price). Well worth the money in my opinion.

Didn't you mean "Everybody hoppy!" :)

You may be right, I'm not an expert. All I know is all season long there was new growth from from the roots that needed to be cut back regularly. After cutting the main bines (so I could harvest) I just let them grow. There's a ton of new growth.

They haven't died yet. They are still growing. When the do die I will cut them back again.

Pick, dry, brew.