Is It Time To Pick My Hops?

[Kwitty]

First year grower here! This harvest will be small being first year plants so I don't want to make mistakes and waste some. My Cascade hops are big toward the top. They are almost the diameter of a quarter, light, sort of papery, and bounce back when you squeeze them. There is lupulin in the leaves. Not quite orange, but how orange should it be? Also the leave tips are not turning brown at all yet. I'm thinking I should wait to pick? Is this right? Thanks for any input from my fellow hop farmers!

 

[flars]

Here is a short guide to hop harvesting that may help decide when to harvest.
http://www.northernbrewer.com/connect/2016/08/to-harvest-or-not-to-harvest/

 

[Cyclman]

I wait until my hops are light brown on the outside, then pick. Not pretty, but great flavor from them.

Split them in half, rub them on your palms, the smell will be overwhelming when they're ready.

I think better a little too ripe than green.

 

[thaymond]

I wait until my hops are light brown on the outside, then pick. Not pretty, but great flavor from them.

Split them in half, rub them on your palms, the smell will be overwhelming when they're ready.

I think better a little too ripe than green.

This for sure. It's better to have a few over ripe cones and toss them, than to have too many under-ripe cones and use them. You end up with a grassy flavor that people can pick up on. I have about 20 cones that are ready over my 4 plants. Yesterday I was ready to hack them down. Then I checked all of my undergrowth hops, and they were still very papery. You can avoid tossing hops out by harvesting only the ready cones, and leaving the rest until they're ready. Your nose and taste buds will thank you.

 

[Kwitty]

Thanks guys! I'm waiting it out. They are showing more signs of drying out and just getting brown at the tips. Figure I'll be picking a few by the weekend. Sweet!

 

[Dfitz]

My fist year too but I'm more concerned with plant health and root growth this year to worry about any kind of harvest. Don't get me wrong, I'll harvest what I get but hops aren't terribly expensive (unless your growing them) so I'll wait till I get what I'm growing them for. I planted 8 different varieties last fall and will put down 6 more plants this fall. This season I have a nice full growth with a promising amount of cones but at the moment my focus is on plant health throug coming seasons.

 

[Kwitty]

I agree. Plant health is most important in the first year. They seem healthy just small. I'm sure next year they'll take off. Not much that doesnt grow in my yard! I have 5 cascades and 5 centennials. I have 3 cascades that are doing good and will have something to harvest. One is a monster for a first year hop plant! The centennials are more sparse. Only 2 plants have a few cones. I'm hoping to just get enough for one dry hop this year! I have a go to pale ale recipe that I want to use them in. Next year will be better. I just don't want to waste what I get this year. Won't be a lot! Thanks!