Paulasaurus's Hops Garden

[Gridlocked]

Is that corkscrew thing with the eyes on it a new Bass lure you picked up for Sunday?

 

[Paulasaurus]

Is that corkscrew thing with the eyes on it a new Bass lure you picked up for Sunday?

My secret is out. Paper towel tube, crayon coloring, googly eyes = Bass Slayer :rockin:

 

[Paulasaurus]

Columbus going for the top! If any of my plants make it to the top this year its going to be this Columbus bine. Only a couple feet from the top! Just starting to throw out sidearms, most are around 4" so far.

 

[Paulasaurus]

Alright time for an update. Cascades started drying out ahead of schedule while on the bine so I harvested most of those last night. I'm guessing around 2 oz when dried. Centennials are close behind and will need to be harvested in a week or so.

My plan was to do a giant wet hopped harvest ale but since all my plants decided to ripen at different times i'm drying some and some will be wet. I'll update the thread when the remaining plants are harvested and when I have harvest brew session pictures.

I've come to the conclusion that the stunted growth of my plants this year is because of and mainly the transplant and a lack of rich healthy soil. The neglect of the weed growth didn't help anything either i'm sure. So at the end of this year i'll be covering all beds with compost as I have done in the past and come next year during rhizome harvest i'll be mixing in the compost and adding more to the mounds.

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Damn Paul....nice set up and nice work! I have no idea how I missed your thread. I have been following Ted's, but just came across yours and your pics are great! I believe that I am going to build a trellis system similar to yours in the spring, as my current set up doesn't allow for full sun. My wife isn't thrilled about the hops garden moving to the back yard, but I'm afraid that I am not going to get the full potential out of my vines in their current location. Then again, with 8 vines going I could really have my hands full if they all start producing at full capacity. Again, nice job!

 

[Gridlocked]

:fro:

 

[Paulasaurus]

Thanks Hoppopotomus! Long time since i've been back to this thread but its finally growing season here in MN so i'll finally starting throwing some more pictures up. Really hoping to see some good growth in the the short season this year now that my plants have been in the ground for a year.

My wife also wasn't thrilled when we moved into our new house and the first project was a hop trellis LOL.

I'm hoping I have my hands full this year. Growing 9 varieties so Hoping I can brew at least two batches with them since last year the entire harvest made it into only one beer.

Damn Paul....nice set up and nice work! I have no idea how I missed your thread. I have been following Ted's, but just came across yours and your pics are great! I believe that I am going to build a trellis system similar to yours in the spring, as my current set up doesn't allow for full sun. My wife isn't thrilled about the hops garden moving to the back yard, but I'm afraid that I am not going to get the full potential out of my vines in their current location. Then again, with 8 vines going I could really have my hands full if they all start producing at full capacity. Again, nice job!

 

[Paulasaurus]

2013 growing season has finally come. I moved my Fuggle, and Nugget from planters(They really wanted out as the pictures show) into the ground finally so I have all 8- 4'x4' areas spoken for.

Onto the pictures....

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Nice Paul! I didn't get to my trellis system this spring, so I'm just sticking with the cable system that I built last year. My second year vines are already kicking a$$! Ted sent me 5 rhizomes last spring including 2 chinooks, 2 cascades, and 1 centennial. I picked up 3 more from my HBS including 1 columbus, 1 glacier, and 1 hallertau. All 8 have numerous shoots, with several per vine already 1-2 ft. tall that I am training. Although I only get partial sun with my trellis system, I think it should be a good year regardless. I'm considering adding additional climbing ropes for each crown, but am unsure what to do. Should I add another climbing rope per crown and train 3 to 5 bines per climbing line and trim the rest back? Or, should I stick with 1 climbing rope per crown and train 3 to 5 bines only and trim the rest back, so that the root system can maximize nutrients and the potential of fewer bines? I'm still pretty new to this hops growing gig, so any advice is appreciated. Ted, you can chime in to, because I know you are a seasoned veteran.

 

[Paulasaurus]

Don't listen to Ted he doesn't know what he's talking about

I and Ted both run 4-6 ropes to each plant and train 1-2 bines per rope and trim back the rest. You're bound to get a random bine sneaking in there here or there, if they get 3' or so up I just let them go as well.

You've got a great variety there and by the sounds of your current growth you should have a great yield at the end of the year. The plants will do fine with partial sun just be sure to water them well and they'll be happy.

Nice Paul! I didn't get to my trellis system this spring, so I'm just sticking with the cable system that I built last year. My second year vines are already kicking a$$! Ted sent me 5 rhizomes last spring including 2 chinooks, 2 cascades, and 1 centennial. I picked up 3 more from my HBS including 1 columbus, 1 glacier, and 1 hallertau. All 8 have numerous shoots, with several per vine already 1-2 ft. tall that I am training. Although I only get partial sun with my trellis system, I think it should be a good year regardless. I'm considering adding additional climbing ropes for each crown, but am unsure what to do. Should I add another climbing rope per crown and train 3 to 5 bines per climbing line and trim the rest back? Or, should I stick with 1 climbing rope per crown and train 3 to 5 bines only and trim the rest back, so that the root system can maximize nutrients and the potential of fewer bines? I'm still pretty new to this hops growing gig, so any advice is appreciated. Ted, you can chime in to, because I know you are a seasoned veteran.

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Thanks man! I tried to space the vines out about 6 feet apart, but only had so much room to work with for the cables. I did run a 360 degree sprinkler head off of my existing lawn sprinker system and positioned centrally located in the hop garden. I turned back the flow output of the head to more of a light spray, so that it doesn't over saturate the soil. Now I need to drop the cables down and add some more ropes, just want to be careful that different species ball up at the top and I don't know which is which. I also need to be careful that they don't steal sunlight from one another. The weather is absolutely gorgeous here in Michigan right now, so this sounds like a good project for tomorrow afternoon! Thanks for the info and I hope all is well.

 

[B-Hoppy]

2013 growing season has finally come. I moved my Fuggle, and Nugget from planters(They really wanted out as the pictures show) into the ground finally so I have all 8- 4'x4' areas spoken for.

Onto the pictures....

You mean to tell me that they wanted out so badly that they actually busted out the sides of the pots? I knew they were amazing plants but never seen anything like that. I'd keep an eye on that one once you put her in the ground, haha!

 

[Paulasaurus]

Well the planter was buried in the ground all winter so i'm guessing the freezing temps had something to do with it. But, it sounds way cooler to just say she busted out cause she wanted to

You mean to tell me that they wanted out so badly that they actually busted out the sides of the pots? I knew they were amazing plants but never seen anything like that. I'd keep an eye on that one once you put her in the ground, haha!

 

[B-Hoppy]

I didn't hear what you said about the freezing thing so I'm all about the new variant developed in MN: Humulus Lupulus 'Ninja-sotaus'. I'd still suggest keeping an eye on her as you could end up like the commercial showing that golfer that the giant venus fly trap gobbled up! Happy growing!

 

[Hoppopotomus]

This is what I'm talking about. Here is a pic. of one of the second year Chinooks from the rhizomes that Ted sent me last year. As you can see, they are a bit unruly this year with at least 25 bines already per plant! The Cascades look very similar.....maybe 20 bines each. The remaining 4 have at least 10 to 15 bines each. I'm just trying to guage how many should be climbers and how many should be trimmed back to allow the crowns root system focus it's nutrient supply to the climbers.

 

[Paulasaurus]

That looks like a very happy Chinook! Being that it was a clipping from Teds you'll have a monster on your hands there.

I'd run 4 ropes to that plant and trim back all but 8 of the largest bines. 2 bines per rope. Same goes for all of them now that they're in their 2nd season.

I'm hoping to get my ropes strung up tonight or tomorrow night. I'll get pictures up once that happens.

This is what I'm talking about. Here is a pic. of one of the second year Chinooks from the rhizomes that Ted sent me last year. As you can see, they are a bit unruly this year with at least 25 bines already per plant! The Cascades look very similar.....maybe 20 bines each. The remaining 4 have at least 10 to 15 bines each. I'm just trying to guage how many should be climbers and how many should be trimmed back to allow the crowns root system focus it's nutrient supply to the climbers.

 

[Paulasaurus]

Finally got my ropes up for all plants! Just in time for the monsoon to hit, the plants are very happy though. Once things dry up a bit i'm going to be adding some reinforcements to the pergola. My yard sees some high winds so better to beef it up now than be left with a pile of rubble. Still a couple more random rhizomes to harvest but otherwise time to add another bag of manure and watch them climb. Oh and pull some weeds outta there

 

[mirogster]

Bump... from C&B. Awesome ep and thread !! Cheers!!

 

[Paulasaurus]

Bump... from C&B. Awesome ep and thread !! Cheers!!

Thanks!

Right back at ya

 

[Gridlocked]

That garden looks great, man!

 

[Paulasaurus]

That garden looks great, man!

Thanks man!

Tempted to expand to the south side of my house just like yours. I'd love to add a few more varieties next season. Or maybe just more Centennial and Columbus :rockin:

 

[Gridlocked]

I was thinking about that today when I saw the most recent pics. You'll need to get yourself some monkeys and train them to harvest for you!

 

[basementbrewbrad]

Great thread. You have an awesome garden. I always enjoy seeing what kind of beer you are drinking when you update your pics. Nice touch.

 

[Paulasaurus]

Thanks, greatly appreciate it.

I'll keep the updates coming as the plants continue to grow. We've been getting lots of rain over the past week here in MN and my plants are growing 1-2 inches a day so hoping for some sun soon to hopefully see 3"+ of daily growth.

Great thread. You have an awesome garden. I always enjoy seeing what kind of beer you are drinking when you update your pics. Nice touch.

 

[Paulasaurus]

Hmmm, hop monkeys, sounds simple enough

I was thinking about that today when I saw the most recent pics. You'll need to get yourself some monkeys and train them to harvest for you!

 

[traviswalken]

I just saw you and Ted on chop and brew.

I planted several hop rhizomes this spring. The video had some great info.

If others are interested in some hop growing basics, it is worth watching.

 

[Paulasaurus]

I just saw you and Ted on chop and brew.

I planted several hop rhizomes this spring. The video had some great info.

If others are interested in some hop growing basics, it is worth watching.

Thanks! Good luck to your hops and keep tuning in to Chop and Brew for more info as the season progresses

 

[Paulasaurus]

Well its been a busy summer to say the least. Need to put some time into the hop garden very soon. Soil still very depleted of nutrients so I have plans to bring in some compost as well as raising the timbers by one level to hold said compost/top soil. Really hoping to see my plants hit the top this year and even more so next year.

Here they are as of yesterday. My Cascade is finally at 10' and the others are close behind. Still need to do some weeding as well. Raspberries are also starting to fruit

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Looking great Paul!

All but two of my 8 vines have made it to the top (18ft). We had a wicked storm roll thru with 70 mph winds on Monday and it did some damage. The trellis system was designed to allow plenty of sway for the trees that support it, but I evidently didn't have enough slack in a couple of the lines and it ripped about 4 of my largest bines out of the ground.....2 on one of the chinooks, and 2 on one of the cascades. Thankfully I ran 3 climbing lines for each crown and trained 2 to 3 bines per line, so there is plenty left, but the ones I lost were the a$$ kickers. Oh well, can't control mother nature.

 

[Paulasaurus]

Sorry to hear about the damage to your hops man. Its one of those things that just isn't in our control. Being that my hops are more in the open now than ever I worry about hail and high winds whenever a storm goes through. I try to keep my ropes as tight as possible and that helps a lot but isn't a guarantee.

You may have lost the larger bines but the energy that was feeding those will now go into feeding the rest.

Keep at it!

Looking great Paul!

All but two of my 8 vines have made it to the top (18ft). We had a wicked storm roll thru with 70 mph winds on Monday and it did some damage. The trellis system was designed to allow plenty of sway for the trees that support it, but I evidently didn't have enough slack in a couple of the lines and it ripped about 4 of my largest bines out of the ground.....2 on one of the chinooks, and 2 on one of the cascades. Thankfully I ran 3 climbing lines for each crown and trained 2 to 3 bines per line, so there is plenty left, but the ones I lost were the a$$ kickers. Oh well, can't control mother nature.