2016 Hop Growing Thread

[BaylessBrewer]

Wowzer!!! Them's some big ole cones! [emoji482]

 

[lnyswonger]

Hi - I have second year Cascades that are appearing yellow and some of the leaves have what appears to be a disease. The first year this plant didn't produce but it's currently at 12 feet and still growing, albeit it a bit slower. Is this underwatering, overwatering, lack of nutrients in the soil, something to not worry about, etc? Here are a few pics:

 

[BaylessBrewer]

I'm not a professional by any means but it looks like it's happening to your tomato plant too and to me it looks like a mineral deficiency. Possibly Iron, Magnesium, potassium or calcium. Best bet is to get a soil sample stat and get it under control ASAP so you can get the most out of your plants this growing season.
Also you NEED a bigger pot for your hops.

 

[lnyswonger]

Thanks for the info to start troubleshooting. Is it too late to transplant into a bigger pot this season?

 

[Terek]

Hi - I have second year Cascades that are appearing yellow and some of the leaves have what appears to be a disease. The first year this plant didn't produce but it's currently at 12 feet and still growing, albeit it a bit slower. Is this underwatering, overwatering, lack of nutrients in the soil, something to not worry about, etc? Here are a few pics:

looks like spider mites to me. I can even see a small web strand in one pic. i had this problem last year. Look at the back of the leaves and see if you can see small white dots, or small spider webs. if so, Spray some soapy water, or neem oil on them.

 

[Littletimmy]

May be way WAY too much info, but found this regarding Integrated Pest Management for hop production...

http://usahops.org/userfiles/image/1457308044_HopFieldGuide3rdEdition-Full.pdf

and this on nutrient issues...

http://www.usahops.org/userfiles/im...dition-Nutrient_Management_and_Imbalances.pdf

 

[WilliamSlayer]

I have 1 Cascade and 3 Chinook. They are all first years.

Next year I am thinking of expanding, what are some good choices to expand to (different varieties) that compliment what I already have, and grow well in Central PA?

Centennial would be good, and compliment your current hops. I'm just below you in MD.

 

[BaylessBrewer]

Getting more burrs on my Cascade plants! View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1467303430.027362.jpg
And the Centennial is starting to throw a bunch of side arms and a few burrs are starting to formView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1467303478.481614.jpg
Overall I'm happy with first year growth from the rhizomes I planted View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1467303527.122772.jpg

 

[BlackIce]

I have 1 Cascade and 3 Chinook. They are all first years.

Next year I am thinking of expanding, what are some good choices to expand to (different varieties) that compliment what I already have, and grow well in Central PA?

I think the best option would be to get some dual purpose hops that you like. This way they can be used for more than 1 thing.

 

[losefreeze]

It was a sad week for my first year hops and garden. 30 straight minutes of pea sized hail really takes its toll

View attachment 1467465111457.jpg

 

[DurtyChemist]

Losefreeze don't feel bad. I had that happen and now all I can grow are side shoots. They'll last and it will be fun managing 15 side shoots that all want to be 20'

 

[Calder]

Note to self - Wear long sleeve shirt when picking hops.

Picked my first hops of the year yesterday from second year plants.

- 14 ozs of Cascade (wet weight)
- 8 ozs Chinook (wet weight)

I was surprised they were ready this early, so I picked several and cut them open, and all had lots of lupulin in the base of the cones. Have them on screens in the garage right now. Plan to use them in a brew tomorrow.

Hope to get a second crop off each. Both have a ton of flowers.

My Willamette and Centennial only have the flowers so far and have not developed any cones.

 

[losefreeze]

Losefreeze don't feel bad. I had that happen and now all I can grow are side shoots. They'll last and it will be fun managing 15 side shoots that all want to be 20'

Thanks Durty. My only concern is that they weren't really taking off before hand but I didn't get them in the ground till beginning of June so I may have stunted their growth I'm that regard. But CO did have a super late summer so we were dealing with cold Temps most way through May.

 

[Robx]

Hi all, I have 6' long sidearms on my teamaker hops but no burrs forming. Is this normal? Some of my sidearms even have 1-2' long sidearms growing from them - but no burrs.

I've been feeding a balanced 10-10-10 + calcium/mag/silica and started supplementing additional phosphorous 2 weeks ago. For my feed I started with 0.7 EC solution and have worked up to 1.5EC (no signs of nutrient burn so I assume it's OK. I also add bacterial starter and molasses to the water. Early on I sprayed the leaves with Kelp+Fulvic acid pretty often but have stopped in the last month or so. It's a hydoponic grow - not sure if that changes anything.

I'm in Boston, MA and planted in late april (plants didn't start growing until may).

y no burrs?

Growing tip of the longest bine - the long sidearms are closer to the base of the plant (2' up from the base) and get progressively shorter from there.

 

[thaymond]

Things are really beginning to bush out. Lots of burrs on all plants, except nugget, per the norm. Not too bad for early July.
View attachment 1467731815975.jpg

 

[thaymond]

Hi all, I have 6' long sidearms on my teamaker hops but no burrs forming. Is this normal? Some of my sidearms even have 1-2' long sidearms growing from them - but no burrs.

I've been feeding a balanced 10-10-10 + calcium/mag/silica and started supplementing additional phosphorous 2 weeks ago. For my feed I started with 0.7 EC solution and have worked up to 1.5EC (no signs of nutrient burn so I assume it's OK. I also add bacterial starter and molasses to the water. Early on I sprayed the leaves with Kelp+Fulvic acid pretty often but have stopped in the last month or so. It's a hydoponic grow - not sure if that changes anything.

I'm in Boston, MA and planted in late april (plants didn't start growing until may).

y no burrs?

Growing tip of the longest bine - the long sidearms are closer to the base of the plant (2' up from the base) and get progressively shorter from there.

Soon, Kemosabe. Soon.

 

[SHAIV]

Hey guys I'm new to growing hops. I've got two chinook a cascade and a centennial all first year in pots. I'm also below latitude 35 in SC. The plants seemed to do pretty well early probably due to the heat but lately they haven't been doing a whole lot. So I've always heard to wait till August or Sept to harvest hops. I was looking at some of my crop yesterday and saw that they are looking like some of them are ready to harvest. Getting some browning and I did pick 2 just to test by squeezing and seeing how they fall apart and check the lupulin glands and all. I got this one that had a good bit of brown on it. It still smelled really good they aren't as big as a lot of people's I've seen but then again maybe it's just because they are first year? Idk, but should I wait till the suggested august or Sept or do you just pick whenever it seems ripe to you? There's a pic of the two I checked out. They seemed good to me.

View attachment 1467799696286.jpg

View attachment 1467800205190.jpg

 

[BaylessBrewer]

Just picked a cone off one of my Cascade plants to see how it was progressing and from my first year growers eyes I would say it looks good! Lots of Lupulin starting to show and very healthy looking cone. Only smelled like a "green leaf" scent so it still has a ways to go.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1467826512.661109.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1467826536.298913.jpg
With and without flash to show Lupulin

 

[mauer_62]

Just got done harvesting my 2nd year Centennial View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1467848082.243952.jpg

 

[corkybstewart]

Hey guys I'm new to growing hops. I've got two chinook a cascade and a centennial all first year in pots. I'm also below latitude 35 in SC. The plants seemed to do pretty well early probably due to the heat but lately they haven't been doing a whole lot. So I've always heard to wait till August or Sept to harvest hops. I was looking at some of my crop yesterday and saw that they are looking like some of them are ready to harvest. Getting some browning and I did pick 2 just to test by squeezing and seeing how they fall apart and check the lupulin glands and all. I got this one that had a good bit of brown on it. It still smelled really good they aren't as big as a lot of people's I've seen but then again maybe it's just because they are first year? Idk, but should I wait till the suggested august or Sept or do you just pick whenever it seems ripe to you? There's a pic of the two I checked out. They seemed good to me.

Those are definitely ready, they don't need to be brown, they just need to feel papery and dry. The cones will get bigger with age(maybe) but size doesn't matter. Don't use a calendar, pick them when they are ready. And if you don't get much, or if they aren't really flavorful don't panic, they'll be much better next year

 

[homebeerbrewer]

My new hop garden:

 

[coyotebrew]

Second year (first successful year) well I say successful but like Dan Akroyd would say, your cone is too young!!!!

 

[lzrdkng14]

Had to unwind this centennial from my gutter. Bines are getting thick
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1467941671.777938.jpg

And here is the cascade
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1467941712.407047.jpg

Jap beetles are beginning to become an issue. How often do you guys spray and is it safe to spray the burrs?

 

[BaylessBrewer]

Had to unwind this centennial from my gutter. Bines are getting thick
View attachment 361228

And here is the cascade
View attachment 361229

Jap beetles are beginning to become an issue. How often do you guys spray and is it safe to spray the burrs?

I just sprayed my plants this evening with Fertilome Triple Action and they are all covered in burrs and cones so I'll let you know if they all die and stop developing. [emoji33] I have something going on with my Centennial plant that I'm not 100% sure what it is and I found 5 japs munching on the leaves today too so......

 

[lzrdkng14]

I just sprayed my plants this evening with Fertilome Triple Action and they are all covered in burrs and cones so I'll let you know if they all die and stop developing. [emoji33] I have something going on with my Centennial plant that I'm not 100% sure what it is and I found 5 japs munching on the leaves today too so......

Do you use the one you connect to the hose? Or do you just spray it directly?

I've been using the systemic

 

[BrandonMH]

I found one the other day, but not on my hops. We got one of those dynatrap xl bug catchers and it has caught alot of moths and those brown beetles that come out at night. I haven't checked the trap for a few days, the hops yesterday am looked ok yet, hole here or there, not like my cucumbers plants did at one point...

 

[BaylessBrewer]

Do you use the one you connect to the hose? Or do you just spray it directly?

I've been using the systemic

No I mixed one gallon in a pump sprayer and applied it that way. I thought the hose end sprayer would be to violent for all the burrs.

 

[SteveHeff]

I was looking at my hope and saw dozens of these little spiders. Are they spider mites or just regular spiders?

 

[The_Bishop]

That setup is awesome, what are your uprights made of? Any construction tips?

My new hop garden:

 

[Rypcord]

My new hop garden:

Love the way you did this. Looks nice and gets the job done.