Homegrown Hops

[Truble]

This is a great thread. As I have an excess of unused land, I am planning out a garden, and it will include hops. However, I know very little about "vining" type plants. Do you guys have any recommended resources to get in the know about starting, growing, harvesting, and splitting Hops? Seems like you all have a pretty decent handle on it.

 

[Schlenkerla]

My hops are doing well.

Cascade #1 - 18 ft. - blooming with lots of large hop flowers.

Cascade #2 - 9 ft. - blooming with many small and medium sized hop flowers.

Nugget #1 - 18 ft. - blooming with lots of small hop flowers

Nugget #2 - 14ft - blooming with many snall hop flowers​

One question, how do I know when to pick them????

The large ones seem to be soft and light green. 1-1.25" in length, 3/4" diameter.

Do I wait until they start do dry?

 

[user 574]

Mine are not happy (Cascade/Nugget). Lots of brown leaves and they've stopped climbing. Nugget snapped off in a storm as well. Guess they can't handle 110 degree temps. Wimps.

 

[david_42]

June 28, 2006 As you can see they aren't doing very well. The tallest (& closest to the camera) is the Fuggles and it's only about 9 ft, which is really poor for the second year. They have started putting out side branches, so I don't expect to see much more growth.

Three of the four I planted this year are early maturing. The Perle looks like a real winner for next year.

 

[usc_cop]

What is the best time to start looking for Rhizomes to buy? March?

 

[user 574]

What is the best time to start looking for Rhizomes to buy? March?

I think that's about it. I bought mine March 18th. There's a relatively short window before they're gone.

 

[Rhoobarb]

This is the second year for my plants. The Nugget and Willamette plants are finally coming up, now that I transplanted them from last year's location, but they aren't bearing any cones. Maybe next year?

However, my Cascade plants are going crazy! I got a small yield last year of about a half ounce, when dried. This year will be much higher. We had a good mix of rain and sun this year. I have picutes here in my gallery.:rockin:

 

[david_42]

Looks like I'll be making a Fresh Hop ale this year. Four two-year old vines and there isn't enough to bother drying any! I should be able to harvest everything without a ladder. I'll be lucky to make a pale, as Fuggles will be 50% of the total.

The vines will be left alone to store up some energy for next spring. Next year: compost in January and drip irrigation. Plus the four other varieties I put in this year.

Anyone have a good recipe for Thistles? I have lots of them.

 

[Todd]

Anyone have a good recipe for Thistles? I have lots of them.

Round up and a shovel..

 

[BootYtRappeR]

How far back are you supposed to prune each year? Anyone Know?

 

[david_42]

You don't prune, they die back to the root every year and start over, sort of like elk horns but not as crunchy. The root ball keeps getting bigger each year & (in theory) a better crop.

 

[EdWort]

Hey David,

How tall are your hops string holder uppers?

 

[Rhoobarb]

How far back are you supposed to prune each year? Anyone Know?

In the Fall, you can cut them an inch or two above the ground and do with the vines what you will.

Last year, I dried mine in the sun for a few days until they were good and brown. Then I soaked them in a tub of water until they were pliable and made a wreath of them, then dried them again in the oven, set on a very low temperature (~200oF), with the door ajar. I got the idea from an article in the October, 2005 issue of BYO. Made for a right nice Christmas wreath! I plan to do it again this year.

 

[Schlenkerla]

I picked my first harvest yesterday! I believe that picked little more than 1.5 oz of cascade off of two plants. I'll be able to get about 3/4 in a few more weeks.

The nuggets are about a month behind. I will probably get about 2 oz from them too. Most of the nuggets are pea-sized, some slightly larger.

I also converted an old dresser with three drawers into a hop oast. I drilled a ton of 1.5" holes in the drawer bottoms. Then lined the drawer bottom with reusable furnace filter meshing. This way the hops are 1" off the bottom. The back of the dresser is open at the base. I have a fan blowing into the back. The drawers are cracked open slightly so the air flow pushes out the moisture. The drying should take about 3-5 days.

This link has a photo album with hop pictures...

http://boozinsusansbrewery.spaces.live.com/

 

[sirsloop]

i give you guys props for making your own hops... for me... im 100% content paying a buck an ounce at the HBS

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

Checked on my Nuggets that BOSTON gave me while I was weeding the vegetable garden tonight...I'm not sure how many ounces there are (I'm sure not a whole lot since they are first year), but there are a lot more flowers than I was expecting. I cracked a few open and they smelled nice...loaded with lupulin.

 

[Boston]

My Nugget hops are just reaching maturity...papery texture, springy when squeezed, lots of dark yellow lupulin resin on fingers. I picked a few ounces this afternoon. I should be able to pick another couple of oz's in another week or so.

(Looks like Brussel's Sprouts)


(Almost ready for the brewpot)

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

Hmm, maybe I should get crackin'. Kinda hot, though. Might sweat.

 

[ian]

Hey you North Carolina guys, I'm growing my first hops this year and am not really sure when to harvest. The Cascades are looking really good in size and appearance but when I pick one I get pretty much no aroma. Is this normal for this area and time of year? I was wondering how strong they'd be before drying?

 

[Schlenkerla]

I'm no expert, but I think you need to squeeze them to get aroma. My LHBS says this is the time to pick them. My don't smell w/o a squeeze. They definately have lupulin sacks under the leaves (brachs).

My nuggets have grown tremdously in the last week. They are at the full size now, last week just pee sized. They smell awesome when squeezed!! :cross:

 

[Boston]

Hey you North Carolina guys, I'm growing my first hops this year and am not really sure when to harvest. The Cascades are looking really good in size and appearance but when I pick one I get pretty much no aroma. Is this normal for this area and time of year? I was wondering how strong they'd be before drying?

The texture of the cones should be "papery". When you break one open the lupulin should be yellowy/orange, like that of a school Xing sign. If the lupulin is light yellow they're not ready to pick yet. Crush it between your thumb and forefinger and give it a whiff, your Cascades should smell like grapefruit and leave your fingers nice and resiny.
Jeff

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

I didn't get mine in this weekend, so they'll have to wait till next as I'm off to sunny Sveeden. Hey Jeff, think about me ~10:07am Raleigh time on Friday when I'm teeing off on the local Swedish course in the 65-70F weather and I'll think about you!

 

[Boston]

You know you can hire a cute Swedish gal to caddie for you, she'll even wash your balls. Have fun.
Jeff

 

[the_bird]

BostonBrewin', love the damn title you gave yourself, love the avatar. Can't WAITfor the season to start.

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

Yeah, I guess the Sox avatar had to go...

In re:Swedish caddy, I was quite disappointed to find out there aren't any beer girls. OTOH, beer is like $8/pint over there. Barbarians.

 

[Boston]

BostonBrewin', love the damn title you gave yourself, love the avatar. Can't WAITfor the season to start.

Yeah, after the asswhoopin' the damn Yankees gave us I can't wait for football season either

 

[the_bird]

They're just lucky it wasn't a BEST OF ELEVEN series, we would have had their asses. Whodathunk, we'd get the best-pitched game from Boomer and Foulky?

 

[Boston]

They just really suck right now. Can't beat TB, can't beat KC, can't beat NY. Only bright spot is Papi's run at the MVP.