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I have plants that have already reached the top of the roof. 14 feet tall. Now what?

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drop the line a little and let 'em climb. whenever they reach the top just keep dropping the line a couple feet. You will end up with some vines curled up on the ground. THey will ive, just might rotate them every so often.

This is Chris Colby's (of BYO) method. He says it works well for him.
 
Just planted my 2 mt hoods for my arbor. Ready for action. Is it recommended that I pull the mulch away from the plant until I see it sprouting?

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Here's a pic of mine I just planted Saturday. From the left are Zeus, Willamette, and Centennial. The Zeus broke ground on Tuesday, I was pretty shocked.


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My little guys just began to break ground. As I said earlier they were in crap soil. Anyways, now I have them in ~8inch flower pots, and I have twine leading up to my gutter and down. Will the 8inch pots become inadequate for the size of the roots? I am sure I have time now because they are still pretty small.
 
My little guys just began to break ground. As I said earlier they were in crap soil. Anyways, now I have them in ~8inch flower pots, and I have twine leading up to my gutter and down. Will the 8inch pots become inadequate for the size of the roots? I am sure I have time now because they are still pretty small.


Yeah I have mine in pots as well. Each pot has about 85 to 90 lbs of potting soil. You will run out of space for sure. Upgrade and go as big as you can!!!
 
We still have one Hop grower in Oregon that still uses sheep to control weeds and lower hop growth. Pretty cheap control.

A technique that was used on a large scale in New Zealand. Not sure if they still do, but that was very common in the past. Free sheep poop fertilizer and lamb chops too! :D
 
Charlotte, NC first time poster here....awesome thread! Thankful to have found this site, and wondering if any NC growers have any tips, just got my first year Centennial rhizomes in the ground April 26... they are about 4" out of the ground currently. Best protection vs. coons and neighbor cats (that doesn't involve death to any party in concern... 'specially my hops!!)? Anything else?
 
Charlotte, NC first time poster here....awesome thread! Thankful to have found this site, and wondering if any NC growers have any tips, just got my first year Centennial rhizomes in the ground April 26... they are about 4" out of the ground currently. Best protection vs. coons and neighbor cats (that doesn't involve death to any party in concern... 'specially my hops!!)? Anything else?

Since you are in NC I would suggest reading this - http://wncveggies.blogspot.com/2010/05/downy-mildew-on-hops-present-in-wnc.html

Downy Mildew going strong in the NC fields. Keepem sprayed.

:mug:
 
If I am lucky enough to find any hop rhizomes st this point, is it still too late to plant in SE Michigan? I was thinking I would be fine considering the end of May is our last possible frost.
 
Freshops still has 10 varieties available. Out of Cascades, but Dave still has Perle and Centennial. I believe he plans on selling to the end of May.

[Plan on gnashing your teeth a lot as people in warmer areas report first harvests before your )*(^&*%^$^%$ plants are tall enough to twine.]

I lie slightly, 3 of my 9 plants are on the twine. Had to turn the heat back on for the house, it's been so cold. More cold and wet predicted through the end of the month. Two of the plants, Centennial and Sunbeam haven't put up anything and they are both third year plants.
 
I saw that and actually ordered a few from them. I also found some cascade rhizomes on eBay that supposedly were just cut. They will be in the ground in no time. Gives me a reason to put in that pergola I have been putting off.:D
 
Just planted these in front of my house today. All starters, not rhizomes. I'm still very new at this, so I just went with starters.

One each of Brewers Gold, Centennial, Magnum, Nugget, Sterling and Willamette.

My only two concerns are the height I have for them to grow ( 8-9 feet ) and if I have heavy enough twine. I had some lying around, so I used it. You really can't see it to well in the pics. I may have to use something heavier I'm thinking.

The other is having the couple there by the gutter spout. I live in Portland, Or and lately the rain's been coming down pretty good. I'm just going to keep an eye out for the soil getting displaced to much.

Brewers Gold, Centennial, Magnum

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Magnum and Nugget

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Nugget, Sterling, and Willamette

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I actually have one more Willamette, and I may put it in a large planter and see if I can't train it to grow up and sideways along the metal fencing on the front porch. Can't hurt to try.
 
If I am lucky enough to find any hop rhizomes st this point, is it still too late to plant in SE Michigan? I was thinking I would be fine considering the end of May is our last possible frost.

hey Smuth10 - I still have some Tett (a few of them left...) and maybe a couple of Nuggets I couldn't get in the ground. I'm in Royal Oak 10.5 mile and woodward.

As far as growing - they need to get established anyway - so you probably won't harvest this year. That said, you may have a few and more importantly - they will get established for next year.
 
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From left to right. second year Chinook, Second year Cenntennial, Third Year Cenntenial in middle(cut back a bunch for friends and its a bit slow), second year Cascade, third year Tettnang, third year Hallertauer.

The trellis is about 16 to 17 feet from ground to top..The Chinnook is 3 to 4 feet above this and the Hallertauer is going accorss the top..Should be an interesting harvest to say the least.. A bit cool spring in Chicago but much better than last year..The Hallertauer grew bad last year but crazy this year..its hard to see on the pic but all have reached the top except the cenntennial that I cut from..it was a bit shocked..
 
Ok, what keeps this up? That is, from not swaying in the wind and falling down.

Equally important, what do your neighbors think. My next door neighbor thinks my 10' trellis is cool and he's a gardener so we get a long great. TWO houses down my neighbor thinks I'm crazy. I suspect if I went 15'+ he'd call the city.
 
Ok, what keeps this up? That is, from not swaying in the wind and falling down.

Equally important, what do your neighbors think. My next door neighbor thinks my 10' trellis is cool and he's a gardener so we get a long great. TWO houses down my neighbor thinks I'm crazy. I suspect if I went 15'+ he'd call the city.

Well the bottom is well under ground.(3 feet).it sways in wind a bit but I support it to the fence as well. No complaints from the neighbors that I know..It looks natural..they can pretend it is a tree for all I care..The copper pipe looks nice and has a good green to it. The kids play baseball in the next yard so they can pretend it is wrigley field. The pipe is in several pieces..the top ataches to each leg about 3 feet off the ground..each leg is 3 feet under ground as well. This allows me to take it down each fall and put back up in the spring. So the neighbors dont have to look at it all year long..LOL but than again I give them beer so they don't complain.

I go out every day and cut a good 15 new shoots sprouting up..I think if I took a weeks vacation I would come home to a jungle for sure..I also planted a new Cascade..behind the second year Cascade. Plan to do a Harvest ale for sure..figure to get several pounds this year.
 
Quick question for everyone who have some good growth, so far. Do you train the "feelers" that come out the sides? I've got 2 cascades that are about 2' tall, and they've started sending out their arms. I didn't know if I'm supposed to train those, too? If not, should I cut them? They are very close to the bottom, so it's not like they will be part of the final harvest.
 
My first Rhizome sprouted about a week ago. Since then, it has only grown about 2 inches. Is this a normal growth rate? I water it every other day, unless it rains, and give it a good a soak. Should I water more? Or is this normal? Thanks for the input!
 
My first Rhizome sprouted about a week ago. Since then, it has only grown about 2 inches. Is this a normal growth rate? I water it every other day, unless it rains, and give it a good a soak. Should I water more? Or is this normal? Thanks for the input!

you might be over watering. i have heard that a good soak every other day or so is all you need until you get into the realy fast growth season.
:mug:
 
Every other day could be over watering. A young plant does like frequent watering but if you are soaking for a long time it could be too much. First year rhizome begins slow and might take a month before it starts to really grow. All you do the first year is let it set itself so it is strong for next year..thats all. if you get any hops enjoy but dont expect much growth.
 
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