hop height?

[Trialsguy]

this is my second year on hops. Three of my 4 hop plants have already reached 12 feet high with 3-4 vines each except my williamette which is only about 5 feet tall on the 3 vines that I let grow. My question is that the ones that have reached my horizontal wire are seeking somewhere else to go. Should I trim them back thus causing the rest of the vine to kinda fill out or thicken up?

 

[badwhale]

I have a similar question. Mine are as high as I want them (aka the gutter) if I top them, will that arrest the growth?

Thanks,
Will

 

[TheCADJockey]

I think you would have to constantly trim them to keep them under control if you want them at a certain height. Mine grow up to a horizontal fence and follow that for 4-5 feet and then grow up stringers 20-25 feet tall. I've never done any maintenance other than maybe once every few weeks, I'll go out and pick off week bines. It gets fairly unruly at times. I'm not sure there is an easy way to stop it without constant attention. As far as I can tell, if there is something for it to grab on to... it will.

My plant is out of control already this year.