Hello HBT! Need some help please! I am a new hop grower and have a few questions: I have browning leaves and also wonder about estimated water consumption and general fertilizing needs. I am in Wisconsin and my hops were started 1 year plants from Great Lakes Hops (Michigan) so I do believe my varieties can grow well here with the weather being very similar to where the plants came from.
2 Nugget, 2 Willamette, 1 Perle, 1 Centennial, 1 Glacier and 1 Mt. Hood.
All plants were leaved out when I recived them back in Mid-April, all appx. 1" - 2" tall. They looked healthy when recieved. I repoted them about a week after recieving (should have probably done that sooner but were still very wet..) However, They did very well in the new pots in our sky light "sun room" with a fan, short waterings every few days and around 60 to 65 degrees temp. About 3 weeks ago I started putting the pots outside during the day to get them used to outdoor weather (45 to 55 degrees daytime) and since it was getting down to 32 to 35 degrees at night I would bring them in. About two weeks ago I left them outside full time, 55 degree days and 38, 39 degree nights. Now temps are much nicer, 65 degree days and 45 degree nights and rising to normal spring/summer temps.. Bottom leaves started browing shortly after giving them a taste of the outdoors 3 weeks ago... Now they are planted as shown in the ground housed inside a 2'x2' box to help contain root base and have a nice landscape look.
Growth has slowed some and they started leaf browing a small amount about 3 weeks ago and looking much more brown in just the last few days.. Some are starting to train and others will be trained in a couple days. Selecting my best 3 bines to climb. Any thoughts on this browning leaves..? I dont think I am overwatering? maybe 1/2 gallon per plant every couple days or as needed. NOTE: If I can make a ball of soil stick together with a hand grip I don't water, If the soil is dry and crumbles apart I water. My soil around the root base box has had 4-5 handfuls of worm castings, 4-5 handfuls of coconut coir and some topsoil mended in. A light top dressing of maybe 1/2 cup of composted chicken manure which I think is 3-2-2 slow release non burning. Worm castings is 1-0-0 and also slow release non burning. I am thinking of making a worm casting/chicken manure tea to add with waterings occasionally or as needed.
Any info on the browning leaves, watering approximation and fertlizing tips will be much appreciated.
2 Nugget, 2 Willamette, 1 Perle, 1 Centennial, 1 Glacier and 1 Mt. Hood.
All plants were leaved out when I recived them back in Mid-April, all appx. 1" - 2" tall. They looked healthy when recieved. I repoted them about a week after recieving (should have probably done that sooner but were still very wet..) However, They did very well in the new pots in our sky light "sun room" with a fan, short waterings every few days and around 60 to 65 degrees temp. About 3 weeks ago I started putting the pots outside during the day to get them used to outdoor weather (45 to 55 degrees daytime) and since it was getting down to 32 to 35 degrees at night I would bring them in. About two weeks ago I left them outside full time, 55 degree days and 38, 39 degree nights. Now temps are much nicer, 65 degree days and 45 degree nights and rising to normal spring/summer temps.. Bottom leaves started browing shortly after giving them a taste of the outdoors 3 weeks ago... Now they are planted as shown in the ground housed inside a 2'x2' box to help contain root base and have a nice landscape look.
Growth has slowed some and they started leaf browing a small amount about 3 weeks ago and looking much more brown in just the last few days.. Some are starting to train and others will be trained in a couple days. Selecting my best 3 bines to climb. Any thoughts on this browning leaves..? I dont think I am overwatering? maybe 1/2 gallon per plant every couple days or as needed. NOTE: If I can make a ball of soil stick together with a hand grip I don't water, If the soil is dry and crumbles apart I water. My soil around the root base box has had 4-5 handfuls of worm castings, 4-5 handfuls of coconut coir and some topsoil mended in. A light top dressing of maybe 1/2 cup of composted chicken manure which I think is 3-2-2 slow release non burning. Worm castings is 1-0-0 and also slow release non burning. I am thinking of making a worm casting/chicken manure tea to add with waterings occasionally or as needed.
Any info on the browning leaves, watering approximation and fertlizing tips will be much appreciated.
