2013 Hop garden photo thread

[BoomerHarley]

Mine are now on their third year. And almost ready.

 

[whitehause]

nice cones

 

[bottlebomber]

Jeepin, that's awesome!

 

[jeepinjeepin]

Jeepin, that's awesome!

Ha, the sky shot or planting with a drill?

 

[Rahahb]

Cascades are what you actually see.

I have sterlings and goldings behind them but they are sucking it up.

 

[NuclearRich]

I use a trellis, let em run to the top, string some twine laterally and train them sideways across my privacy fence. They run vertical for ~6ft, and a solid 6ft more sideways. Also, you will notice some symbiotic plants growing close to the willamette. Chives (which I let flower this year, thinking they would be prettier... wrong) and garlic (hard to see, actually behind the trellis), oh and a strawberry patch off to the left too!


Third year Willamette


Second year Nugget


Nugget cones forming

 

[mthompson]

Mine are all doing really well this year.

Left to right (2 each); 3rd year wild, 3rd year wild, 2nd year Cascade, 2nd year Centennial. All are to the top and past 15ft.

I had set up a gravity-fed drip system, but it has rained every 3-4 days since April.

These are the emitters (same setup for my squash/melons); 3/4" mainline, 4gph emitters, with ~5ft of head = 0.8gph of actual flow.

The emitters are designed to work at 25psi, but work really well in low pressure gravity-fed systems as well.

Best regards,

MT

 

[jethro55]

That is a great watering scheme. I'll copy that one here !!!
We have had similar rain here in Dayton. Looks like dry weather ahead though.

 

[Eshorebrewer]

Hops are starting to form on my magnum bines.

 

[mthompson]

That is a great watering scheme. I'll copy that one here !!!
We have had similar rain here in Dayton. Looks like dry weather ahead though.

If you want more info, Google "new Mexico state gravity drip system". They have done a ton of research on drip systems and have really good extension publications you can download and read. My gravity-fed systems are based on their research data on emitters and head, and their system design for arid regions.

There's a difference between gravity-fed and standard drip systems (hooked to a municipal source), so make sure you are reading the appropriate info for your application.

I set up both kinds this year, two gravity-fed for hops and squash/melons and a standard for my 400sq.ft. garden. So far they have worked perfectly the few times I used them. It takes a while to set up, but it's worth it for me because my work schedule is so unpredictable and ranges from 50-75 a week... Which leaves little daylight time for tending things.

 

[RUNningonbrew]

Lateral bines are going crazy, do I just let them go where they want?

 

[tjpfeister]

 

[KGB09]

Lateral bines are going crazy, do I just let them go where they want?

Depends. If the plants in the pic are the same type, then yes. If different, then it will be difficult to tell the difference between them. Up to you.

 

[jethro55]

If you want more info, Google "new Mexico state gravity drip system". They have done a ton of research on drip systems and have really good extension publications you can download and read. My gravity-fed systems are based on their research data on emitters and head, and their system design for arid regions.

There's a difference between gravity-fed and standard drip systems (hooked to a municipal source), so make sure you are reading the appropriate info for your application.

I set up both kinds this year, two gravity-fed for hops and squash/melons and a standard for my 400sq.ft. garden. So far they have worked perfectly the few times I used them. It takes a while to set up, but it's worth it for me because my work schedule is so unpredictable and ranges from 50-75 a week... Which leaves little daylight time for tending things.

Thank you for the tips !

 

[tripplehazzard]

I have first year plants and I have been reading up on hop gardens. Some say to trim back all but the strongest 2 bones. Is this q good rule for first year plants? Or should I just let them go the first year? The only reason I ask is because my Sterling is going nuts. It has like 8 or 9 bines one more keep popping up

 

[mthompson]

I have first year plants and I have been reading up on hop gardens. Some say to trim back all but the strongest 2 bones. Is this q good rule for first year plants? Or should I just let them go the first year? The only reason I ask is because my Sterling is going nuts. It has like 8 or 9 bines one more keep popping up

That is a recommendation for mature crowns only - 2-3+ years. The first two years you really want the plant to have as much leaf area as possible, so that it can build a large healthy root structure.

My Cascade and Centennial rhizomes had a few bines last year, this year they would have over 50 easily. I cut them back once they started really growing this year and train 5 each. Now a month later, there is another 50 bines coming out all over the place. I am going to leave these grow to build roots for a huge crown for next year.

 

[tripplehazzard]

That is a recommendation for mature crowns only - 2-3+ years. The first two years you really want the plant to have as much leaf area as possible, so that it can build a large healthy root structure.

My Cascade and Centennial rhizomes had a few bines last year, this year they would have over 50 easily. I cut them back once they started really growing this year and train 5 each. Now a month later, there is another 50 bines coming out all over the place. I am going to leave these grow to build roots for a huge crown for next year.

Thank you!! Should I be worried about the spotty leaves? I don't think its a deficiency. We have had a lot of rain lately

 

[tripplehazzard]

Well I guess I should post a pic since that's what this thread is all about my makeshift natural trellis.

 

[mthompson]

Thank you!! Should I be worried about the spotty leaves? I don't think its a deficiency. We have had a lot of rain lately

Could be a deficiency. It is a symptom of many. You could do some foliar feeding the see if it clears up.

 

[TangoHotel]

I got some awesome growth on the Sunbeam, Willamette and Nugget. Looking forward to getting some fresh hops this fall!

 

[agreenmartian]

Here's my first year Columbus and Willamette. Got a late start, got them into planters Wednesday, and then built the trellis yesterday.


Hops 6/22/13 by agreenmartian, on Flickr

 

[jmich24]

My hops took a beating from a recent hail storm. 75 percent of the growth tips and sidearm were damaged. Its going to be a let down of a season from what I can see after a week of recovery. Some instantly started to burr (way too early) other just look terrible. A ton of new spouts also have come out of the crown but I think it is way to late to start over here in Michigan. Luckily once there established it is next to impossible to kill them.

Here is to looking forward to next season!

Cheers!

 

[ghosthef]

My first year growing hops...going to have to rig something a little taller for next year...

 

[BirdDoctorbrewcyclist]

Here are my first year Sterling (R) and Willamette (L) both started from rhizome in Early may in Michigan. I have begun to really run out of space for the sterling though and its only mid/late June... Anyone have any advice, should I somehow rig something up to give it more growing room? will it be ok if I leave it alone? I don't want it to just break off, which is my main concern.

Also, they are in pots, so they are moderately mobile if need be.

 

[Rockindaddy]

Hops cones are starting to develop on my first year Cascade & Centennial's.

 

[whitehause]

My hops took a beating from a recent hail storm. 75 percent of the growth tips and sidearm were damaged. Its going to be a let down of a season from what I can see after a week of recovery. Some instantly started to burr (way too early) other just look terrible. A ton of new spouts also have come out of the crown but I think it is way to late to start over here in Michigan. Luckily once there established it is next to impossible to kill them.

Here is to looking forward to next season!

Cheers!

Damn man.....that sucks. Maybe you'll get something yet this year.

 

[UncleLankyFrank]

We have had an awful Spring up here in Minnesota! Snow throughout May and now it WON'T STOP RAINING!! I finally see some Tettnanger coming up, but it's nt looking very happy. One plant is a little greener, the other kind of yellowing.

This is my first year, so i don't know what to expect, especially in these conditions. The ground is so saturated that trees are falling over! Any advise?

 

[basementbrewbrad]

My first year is going well ... Cones showing on all 4 varieties

 

[jglazer]

Tettnang are looking great and I have been picking them and throwing them in my glass whenever I am drinking an IPA. Cascade are slower but seem to be growing taller and taller every day.

Pic 1 is the entire garden. The two posts closest to us are the tettnang and the cascade run along the left side posts, one of which you cant see and pic 4 will show you

Pic 2 is a close up of the tettnang that seems to be maturing the fastest. Its crazy how the left side of this plat has so many cones almost ready to be picked and the right side you can clearly see is just starting to produce cones.

Pic 3 is the same shot as pic 2 but farther out

Pic 4 is the left side post that you couldnt see in pic 1. Starting with that big tree posts and continuing along the left side are 3 cascade plants with the closest one doing the best.

 

[Nunner]

Looks like I will be getting some hops out of my first year Columbus! The centennial are still growing strong too.... Cascade.... Not so much