Monster hop on top ( not a new Dr. Seuss book)

[Moosey]

This is my first year growing hops and one of my plants is putting out some hops cones and on both bines the hope cone on top is 1.5 to 2 times the size of any other cones. Is this normal, and if so is it a function of getting the most direct sunlight?

 

[ericbw]

I literally gasped out loud when I saw this. Sorry no one has answered your question. It looks huge. Mine made about 5 small cones in their second year, and this year (3rd) are covered with cones, some as long as maybe 2.5 inches. The plants have gone insane.

 

[Moosey]

I literally gasped out loud when I saw this. Sorry no one has answered your question. It looks huge. Mine made about 5 small cones in their second year, and this year (3rd) are covered with cones, some as long as maybe 2.5 inches. The plants have gone insane.

I just pulled down the cones from this plant and was able to get just over an ounce of wet hops. Good to know that the cones can regularly get over 2 inches long on mature plants. I’m curious to see if next season the plant puts out more double sized cones on the top of each bine.

The two cones at the top of this picture were the two on top of each bine.
https://imgur.com/Vzq6kyE