Finally got them in the ground!!!

[birdley123]

I finally managed to get my hands on a couple of nice hop plants;
1 Cascade and 1 Chinook. Both are already about 8-10" high with 3-5 bines on each plant!
How long before I start training them? And which bines do I use to train?
Thx, B.

 

[AndytheBeave]

I am watching this thread with great intrest as I just got my hands on 1 Magnum plant and 1 Willamette plant. I potted both this afternoon.
I do not have a green thumb so hopefully I don't kill them.

 

[ststephen5]

If they are already 8-10" high, start training them clockwise around some twine or the like now. Also, since it's well into June I wouldn't trim any vines, mostly because they have been transplanted and already in some state of shock. Cascade and chinook are both hardy in just bout all areas so I'm sure they will take off with next year bringing you a solid harvest. Good luck!


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[birdley123]

Train all the bines onto the twine? That would be like 5 wrapped around one rope. Is that cool? Seems fine now, but could get a little crowded later...

 

[ststephen5]

I would use a couple of strands of rope for each plant with two or three bines each. The idea is to help the plant establish itself in its new location. Next year when the shoots start popping cut back the growth to two to three shoots per string for each plant. Others on the forums may have different methods but for me,first year plants going in the ground late in the growing season should be left to build a strong root system. You may see some crop this year but nothing like what those babies will throw at you next year if ya take care of them!


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[birdley123]

Good to hear! Exactly what/how should I treat them at the end of the season? Cut back to about a foot high and cover in mulch??


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[ststephen5]

Wait for the bines to die back on their own, you'll know when this happens when the leaves fall off. cut them all back to ground level. I cover with a fresh layer of cow manure and a few inches worth of fallen tree leaves before winter hits. Next spring gently pull back the leaves when the weather starts to warm. you'll see new growth pretty quickly. I cut back the first couple vines that show and wait for the second sets to show and begin training those as soon as they reach about a foot. As a side note, bury sections of the bines from this year in the ground in marked locations. You can dig those up next spring and start a whole new hop plant. More money and hops to brew beer with!

 

[birdley123]

So here's a question; how long does/should it take for these to start moving, or for me to actually see some movement growth-wise? I know I transplanted them, but I thought hops were supposed to grow __ inches a day?
Am I in too much of a hurry?