Specific hops for san diego?

[dunnright00]

Yah, I have them in a good spot but they wont really get anything over 6 hours of light until they reach 4 feet tall, as they get bigger they will get sunlight all day.

That sounds like my sit. The Brewers Gold, and the Goldings are taking off. The I hope they get enough sun....

 

[Almighty]

Just thought I'd share how my Goldings are doing. If anyone else has progress shots I'd like to see them and let me know what your caring directions are.

I'll keep updating mostly on my blog. http://jeffreycrane.blogspot.com/

 

[bodhi314]

Sterling (taller plant) and Nugget Hops (red ribbon) ~6weeks since first shoot - I have a catepillar problem - anybody else?

Ideas?

Happy Hop-ping.

 

[JarrodH]

I had some caterpillars last year, but I haven't seen any yet this year. My 2nd year Cascade is about 2 1/2 feet tall and my 3rd year Tet and Northern Brewer are still within a couple inches off the ground. (They were late starters last year as well) Ill try and get some pictures up tomorrow. I am out in Easy County so its starting to get hot out here.

 

[Almighty]

Mine started to look like the caterpillars took a few bites but didn't like the taste. Only a few of the bottom leaves were attacked, and now they are gone. Not sure the best way to get rid of them.

 

[JarrodH]

My three hops as of this morning. Northern Brewer in a half barrel, Cascade and then my recently transplanted into the ground Tettnanger. The NB and Tet havent done too much lately, but the Cascade is taking off.

 

[starrbrew]

The 2 Willamette left from last year just started back to life. Each has 5-6 bines half to an inch tall. I had 1 willamette and 2 nugget that didn't grow last year. I just got 3 magnum rhizomes to get in the ground this weekend. The 2 willamette that dd grow last year 1 got 3' the other 4'. Hopefully this year will be better! :cross:

 

[Toecutter]

Riverside here. Just planted 4 each, Cascade, Columbus, and Centennial on the south west side of the backyard along the pool fence. I have a large yard on an old orange grove. Soil is great, I have quite a few Citris/Avocado trees and they grow like crazy here. We will see how these do. Would like to build up a stash for dry hopping.

 

[Hebby]

I have Cascade, Centennial, and Chinook which I planted last year. I think I read some bad info. and cut them back to 1 bine per rhizome. The cascade and centennial did fine but the chinook didn't get to big or produce. However this year they are coming back and the cascade and centennial are just starting to grow, there's a few shoots with leaves coming up and a couple spikes coming through on the chinook. I am going to let them all grow this year and not cut them back, treating them as first year plants. We shall see.

Toecutter, I am curious how the blood orange hefe turned out. I was thinking of making something along those lines. How did you add the blood oranges? Steep them and add to primary or secondary?

 

[Toecutter]

Toecutter, I am curious how the blood orange hefe turned out. I was thinking of making something along those lines. How did you add the blood oranges? Steep them and add to primary or secondary?

Hefe came out great. 1 keg on tap, and another in reserve. for 10 gallons I used 8 oranges. halve them and clean out the insides. then peel the skins (zest) by using a potato peeler. boil a small pan of water. turn off the flame, add the zest and BO insides to a hop bag and soak a few minutes in the hot water to sterilize. Then dump it all in the primary and pitch your yeast. Not sure if it was the oranges, but it fermented violently, like a volcano.

 

[Almighty]

2nd Year Goldings just started to come up

3rd Cascade also just started to come up. Had to cut about 5 rhizomes off this year.

3 new plants this year in containers. These are off to a good start.
Centennial

Chinook

Magnum

More pictures here:
http://jeffreycrane.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-hop-gardens.html

 

[Brewitt]

I live about 2 miles from the ocean in North County. I'm thinking about planting hops sometime early next year. I'm wondering whether anyone here is having luck growing close to the coast. I'm far enough inland that the fog burns off relatively early in the day and doesn't generally come back until dark. I have a very happy vegetable garden so that's a good sign.

Also, what do you folks do with your hops (dumb question)? What I mean is do you use them fresh, freeze them, dry them, etc?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Almighty]

If your vegetables are doing well I imagine your hops will. You just might have to find what hops grow well for you. I would suggest getting a few different varieties. All the popular American hops like Cascade, Centennial and Chinook grow very easily. They really like as much sun as possible. I have had a harder time with English varieties but with your coastal fog you may be in a great area for it.

Remind me next March and I will provide you with some rhizomes. Our homebrew club QUAFF has several growers with too many rhizomes including myself.

As for what to do with your hops it all depends on your harvest and your taste. I don't like wet hop beers and my harvest has yet to be big enough to need to freeze any. (But next year will be different)

 

[Brewitt]

Almighty, Thanks for your response. I would be very interested in obtaining some rhizomes if folks have them to share. I am also be interested in learning more about QUAFF. I looked at the website and I guess you folks meet down in Hazard Center. Can anyone just drop in? What goes on at the meetings? Is there an agenda posted or are they just informal get togethers. It's a bit of a drive for me so I'd be interested in knowing in advance if something of particular interest in going to happen. Thanks for any info.

Regarding hops: Does your response mean that you pick and dry them and then use them for brewing? What is the difference with wet hops?

Lots of questions. Early in this game.

 

[Almighty]

No Problem.

You are right the QUAFF website is not the best area for information. Once you join the Club you will be a part of the email list. Which is very active and probably the best place for advice and questions. They will also announce what talks will be at the meeting. I have not seen anything posted about the next meeting yet.

Anybody can come to the meeting and if you like the meeting then you can choose to join (which the best part is we get discounts at most of the San Diego homebrew shops).

The meetings are always different. We have had some local brewers come speak with us like Jeff Bagby of Pizza Port and Peter Zien of Alesmith (former president of QUAFF). Members share beers and can get feed back. Members will do presentations on certain styles or growing hops (last march)

QUAFF is quite large with over 200 members and at least half at the meetings. And because of this the meetings are somewhat formal with an agenda.

You should come to the next meeting and see if it interests you or if you want something else. There are quite a few other brew clubs in San Diego and a couple in North County.

Hops: We will have plenty to share next year, our plan is to bring them all to the March or April QUAFF meeting. But you can remind me here and I'll get you some.

Yes the hops are picked as soon as they start feeling dry and papery. When they are first picked they contain a good amount of water (80% or greater) so these are called wet hops. Some people use them like this because they get a super fresh hop taste (no oil lose), but there can be some vegetal or grassy notes.

So then you can dry the hops after picking (several methods just search) and use them like you normally would. Most people assume an average alpha acid number for that variety.

Let me know if you need any other info

 

[Brewitt]

Great information. Thank you. I will show up at a meeting in the next couple of months. Thanks also for the offer of hops.