Are my hops done for the year?

[riored4v]

I'll try to grab a pic tonight to post, but I'm start to worry about the outcome of my 2nd year hops.

The hops were growing really strong at first. The growth slowed a bit and they starting to turn a little yellow in the leaves. I was working on trying to either give them more water and work on nutrition with the soil, etc but last week we got hit with a nasty hail storm and the plants took a beating. Some of the ends are pretty much dry and brittle now. Most the leaves have been stripped off as well.

I went through and cleaned up the carnage, tossed down some new soil and have been working on watering (some days with miracle-gro), but to hopefully save them, i'm not sure what the best route to take would be. Just work with what I have and hopefully they come back? Trim them back down?

Any ideas would be appreciated Thanks

 

[cram]

I think half the fun in growing is playing mad scientist and experimenting. You might want to cut one (or more) back and leave the others up and compare results. Given that it's still June, I don't think they're done. I had an early harvest on some first year plants last year and experimented with cutting some back and leaving the others up and, honestly, there wasn't much difference in the end--they both grew to produce more hops. From that experience, though, I'd lean toward leaving them up. The leaves that still remain will provide some energy for the plant, which wouldn't be the case if you cut them back to ground. You might try the middle ground and cut the plant half way, which should allow for less stress on the plant and encourage lateral growth at the top node that you can train upwards. If you go with the laterals, and try to make these your primary bines, I would suggest letting both sides grow until one is clearly longer (generally, one side grows more robustly than the other) and then trim off the short one. My point being that I'd rather two-four laterals each from their own leaf node rather than two laterals from the same node--no science to back this up, just observation...good luck! Hopefully, others will chime in.

 

[PDonn63]

It sounds like your yellowing leaves are the same problem I had. I posted a few spots down (what do these leaves mean?) and got some good advice. I have pics up too so if yours look at mine I'd try the Ironite solution.

 

[david_42]

Keep working on it, there's reserve energy for new growth down in the roots. There was a major hail storm in the hops growing areas in Germany a couple years back. They ended up with a smaller crop, but most of the plants survived.

 

[riored4v]

pics of the hops



hops1 by riored4v, on Flickr


hops2 by riored4v, on Flickr

Last night I noticed that there seemed to be some tiny sprouts shooting out from the main vine, so maybe there is hope.

 

[B-Hoppy]

Hey man, looks like you'll be fine. Usually, when the plants get damaged like that they seem to start calling for some of the reserves to come into action so the laterals should begin to form a little earlier than normal. Good call on getting the dog dressed up in the traditional garb while addressing the hop gods for help. Another couple hail storms would probably knock your harvest down to nothing for this year. Hop on!

 

[wyzazz]

Looks like the pooch and the hops got in to one heck of a fight, but I think they will both be fine.

 

[riored4v]

She insisted on being in the picture lol. She got hit by a car a couple weeks back.


Should I look in to trimming the more brown shoots, or maybe trim them down half-way as suggested above? I've noticed some new shoots sprouting from the ground as well.

I think I'll also try out that Ironite solution mentioned in the other thread. Seems like it has good results.

 

[wyzazz]

Glad she's doing OK!

Unless they are completely brown with no green leaves then I'd leave them. If there is still green on the leaves, you may be still getting photosynthesis from them. JMO

 

[riored4v]

For the most part, the main vine is still green. Some browning/dryness on them towards the top. The leaves that are left have a touch of green left in them.

 

[bwomp313]

Good call on getting the dog dressed up in the traditional garb while addressing the hop gods for help.

I laughed for like a minute straight over this.

 

[riored4v]

I couldnt find the Ironite in a liquid solution, other than the style you can hook up to your hose directly, so I went with the solid form. The directions didn't seem real specific on a small area so I had to wing it, and hopefully I do so on the conservative side. I turned the soil and added some compost along with manure. Sprinkled Ironite across the surface and then mixed it all in and watered. Hopefully this will work??

Over the last week I have noticed some growth happening and some leaves starting to form again, so I might be headed in the right direction.