Ready for Harvest?

[bigjim63]

I'm dying to figure out if my first year Golding hops are ready for harvest. They are kinda' dry and springy but still feel "green?" They are yellow but is it golden enough on the inside. They smell amazing when I cut them in half and give a sniff. I've watch videos and read everything I can, but I'm honestly just more confused and could really use some input.

I'd like to get these off the bine as quickly as possible b/c I've been waging a multi week war against aphids that I'm currently winning but things can change in a instant. I would also like to ask if the brown or discolored (aphid damage) leaves effect the hops when it comes to brewing. Thanks, -Jim

Note: These are all pics of the same hops. The first pic is in natural light the others are taken /w a flash.

 

[bigjim63]

I find it affirming that 41 people have looked at this thread and no one has replied. Either you guys think my question is stupid or you have no damn idea either. I hope it's the latter. Still hoping for help........

 

[worksnorth]

No idea! Sorry! I'm in the wrong State to even contemplate hop growth! Good luck

 

[tchuklobrau]

my color blind ass cant tell you much from the pics. alot is feel as well as looks. grab one is it papery sounding? when you squeeze it does it compress or bounce right back? Im to drunk to do the research but there is a video that shows how to tell when they are ready, I believe it is one of Hopfarmer's posts(btw I vote sticky on that video)

 

[tchuklobrau]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f92/hop-ripeness-video-260253/ found the video hope it helps some.

 

[RumRiverBrewer]

They look close but not quite there yet (according to pics). Mine are of varying maturity, at this point in time and should be ready to go in a week or three depending on variety... The thing to look at is the color of the yellow lupulin if you open one up - it should be a vibrant yellow, not pale. Also, they shouldn't feel wet - the outer leafs should be light and dry and even some slight browning of the edges. They're not all going to be ready at once on the bine, but harvest when most are good.

 

[Crito]

The crush and smell test. Looks good for one. Maybe a little more time for them wouldn't hurt.

 

[bigbeergeek]

Lupulin doesn't look gold-yellow enough to me. Give 'em more time.

 

[bottlebomber]

+1 to just not quite there yet. Not far off though. Another week to 10 days. Stop watering them, also.

 

[Hethen57]

Your's look alot like mine....based on my research, they are not ready. The only varieties I have that appear to be ready are Magnum and Chinook....all others are still too green and moist...but close. My research has me waiting til they are papery, with many yellowing or browining on outsides, and slighly crackly, crunchy as you squeeze them, with very hop fragrant.

 

[paulster2626]

Are they supposed to smell REALLY hoppy? Like if I pick one off a bine and mush it all around in my hands, should I smell 100% hop goodness, and be overwhelmed with hoppy thoughts?

Or should it smell like I just mashed up a plant that -kinda- smells like hops?

 

[Hethen57]

It probably depends upon the variety, but my unripe cones smell hoppy with I squish them in my hands, but the ones I'm thinking are ripe smell real hoppy just sticking your nose up the the hanging cone and they are starting to open and yellow and are very papery. Those are the ones I am picking tonight! I just pass down the bines squeezing the different varieties of cones and you can feel a big difference. I'm no expert, but I studied a bunch of stuff on the internet and I looked at some bags of whole leaf cones I bought from Hops Direct to determine that most of mine are not ripe, but they are close. Most also say it is better waiting a little longer, than jumping the gun and getting a grassy aroma and missing the peak goldish lupulin level...but it is hard to wait!

 

[Rus2K]

+1 to just not quite there yet. Not far off though. Another week to 10 days. Stop watering them, also.

I'm kind of in the same situation. Why stop watering? Does it help the cones get that paper like feeling?

 

[bottlebomber]

I'm kind of in the same situation. Why stop watering? Does it help the cones get that paper like feeling?

The stress can help lupulin production, and there's no point in juicing them up with water at this stage.

 

[bigjim63]

Thanks for all the replies gang. I'm glad I'm not the only one lost on this and others have gleaned imput on this thread as well. I honestly have never used whole leaf hops (I'm a pellet guy) in my brewing so I have no bassis for comparison and have really valued your help. I've put so much time and effort into keeping this plant alive for the last several months I'd hate to waste the first years crop I've been blessed with b/c from my understanding it's uncommon.

I apreicate the tip on the no watering. I've read other places to water and fertilize as the cones are developing, but what you said makes perfect sense.

Thanks again! -Jim

 

[bottlebomber]

You definitely don't want to use fertilizer, even organic fertilizer, after cone development has started. The P/K that you have supplied will have already done the good that it is going to do, and having un-metabolized fertilizer in the plants can contribute to harsh flavors.

 

[Rus2K]

Should I wash my hops??? It seems I have more bugs then last year. Or perhaps I am paying more attention to the hops this time around.

 

[bottlebomber]

Should I wash my hops??? It seems I have more bugs then last year. Or perhaps I am paying more attention to the hops this time around.

No! Don't wash your hops! Lol