Starting a small hop farm!!!!

[itinerantbrewer]

Looks great! I imagine you've got the replacement plants in holes by now? Hows the well coming?

Sounds like the drought was the major problem last year. Did you notice any disease or bug problems? Did the stink bugs cause problems? How about the deer or other animal pests?

 

[savidgebrothers]

Checked out your fb page, looks cool. My family owns a farm and we planted a few rhizomes last year. Now we have 100 cascades planted and would like to continue to expand and actually sell them. How did you or you plan on getting started selling them. Just asking local breweries? Just seems like a hard thing to plan for knowing you really wont get a full yield for 3 years. Would they set something up with you that far in advance. Just curious if you have any advise since we would like to plant 500-1000 more next year if we would have a market. We have old telephone poles and it is so exciting to see our original plants up to the top of 18ft and then some this year!

 

[Rahahb]

Methinks OSHA would want to see this picture!

Lol!

Looking good. Envious.

 

[PleasantValleyHops]

Looks great! I imagine you've got the replacement plants in holes by now? Hows the well coming?

Sounds like the drought was the major problem last year. Did you notice any disease or bug problems? Did the stink bugs cause problems? How about the deer or other animal pests?

Drought def took its tol on everythig. Not to mention the majority of our planting happen on july 4th. Not june, not may, not april but july. So im kinda happy with what came up bc of how late we were. Since last year we have done way more research and everythin is coming along alot better. The well is a big disappointment. The drillers that have all the permits. Their driller broke now 3 weeks ago and had to have it shipped down to NC to get fixed. But on a good note possibly might have come across grant money to now pay for the well and all new drip irrigation. Since we already have most of the componets we will be focusing on the automated watering. To make life even that much easier. With drought we didnt really have much chance for mildews or anything like that and havent seen any this year. Also havent het seen aphids or other such creatures to fight with. Weve been kinda lucky in that aspect. Deer and other animals have yet to be a peoblem as well. Hopefully more pictures coming soon to here and the fb page.

 

[PleasantValleyHops]

Checked out your fb page, looks cool. My family owns a farm and we planted a few rhizomes last year. Now we have 100 cascades planted and would like to continue to expand and actually sell them. How did you or you plan on getting started selling them. Just asking local breweries? Just seems like a hard thing to plan for knowing you really wont get a full yield for 3 years. Would they set something up with you that far in advance. Just curious if you have any advise since we would like to plant 500-1000 more next year if we would have a market. We have old telephone poles and it is so exciting to see our original plants up to the top of 18ft and then some this year!

Selling....... Well have talked to a few local breweries. Some large (flying dog). And some smaller (brewpubs and such). Most are on board for buying them. Quality is the big thing. If u dont plan on having that u wont be able to sell them

Advise for 500-1000 plants..... No matter how much u may think ur ready ur prob not. But all u can do is try ur best. Wont know unless u try. More updates to come

 

[GVH_Dan]

Selling.... Quality is the big thing. If u dont plan on having that u wont be able to sell them

Amen to that. "Local" will get your foot in the door but if you hand them a pile of crap in ziploc bags, you just ruined it for yourself and the next three people walking through the door.

You first year, you'll have so little that you are best giving it away. If you can, get it pelletized or at least in what ever form you plan to sell. Make sure they are properly vacuum packed with a gas flush in a UV proof bag. Get them tested so you can show at least alpha and oil levels. Then try to get a few ounces in their hand so they can open, rub them, sniff them and then look at the lab results. Expect to do the same the next year, too. By year three, you may have a few customers ready to buy and you'll have the supplies ready to go.

 

[GVH_Dan]

Would they set something up with you that far in advance. Just curious if you have any advise since we would like to plant 500-1000 more next year if we would have a market. We have old telephone poles and it is so exciting to see our original plants up to the top of 18ft and then some this year!

1000 plants is almost an acre. Our growers put three different varieties on their first acre so the harvest will be staggered. If you are trying to pick a full acre by hand, you'll never get it done in time.

 

[zrule]

bump

 

[PleasantValleyHops]

bump

Well update on grants. We r about 2 weeks out from knowing if our entire irrigation will be paid for by the government or not. Fingers crossed that it will work out. Other than. Pictures coming this weekend.

 

[PleasantValleyHops]

A few pics from our pilot farm. Looking like its going to b a good harvest off these plants.

Sorry no real updates from the big farm at this point. Just been busy keeping up w everything. Got a tri-axle load of compost mix soil

 

[PleasantValleyHops]

So we started redrilling for some plants
Below is after drilling




This is after the top soil/compost mix was added and mixed in


Getting ready to plant




Another look












And this is that row done. 120 in that row



Doin some counts. With the 400 we potted this year. We are officially at 397 have become healthy plants. Not too shabby. I was pretty happy woth overall results of that. Amd since no harvest is really thought about on the 400 were hopkng the roots can fully establish themselves in the new soil amd take off. As far as the rest of the field goes. They arent really taking off like i would hope. Still fighting the drip irrigation stuff. But we do have plants arohnd the 12-13' mark on the trellis. Thats it for now!! Thanks

 

[PleasantValleyHops]

 

[basementbrewbrad]

Looking good

 

[sok454]

Looks awesome man! May have to get some advise from you!

 

[herc1354]

Sounds like a cool idea, looks amazing. I grew up in MD, I miss that wonderful state an it's orange rocky soil, amazing for tomatoes and from what I've been reading lately hops too. Good luck!

 

[herc1354]

I was also curious as to how you plan on harvesting, drying and packaging your hops.

 

[PleasantValleyHops]

I was also curious as to how you plan on harvesting, drying and packaging your hops.

Harvest will either be by hand, But if i feel when that time comes its going to take too much time i will be using a local harvester that i have access to. Also i have an oast ready so that part no big deal. We will be vacuum sealing bags. Working on get the different bags for them as well. As of now they will be normal food saver bags which will work perfect. I will keep everyone posted on when i get closer to the harvest time! And as always anyone and everyone feel free to check out te facebook page to see more updated pictures.

 

[itinerantbrewer]

Well, on the plus side, I think you'll have one of the best vistas available to a hand hop harvester!

Still no pest (mildew, bug, animal) problems, I take it?

Do you expect to harvest and package all your varieties or are some not as well established yet?

Do you find the cones all tending to be rippening at the same rate (per variety)? That is, do you think you'll have an ideal harvest date or do you think you'll have to just pick a date (for each variety) when some are over-ripe and some under-ripe?

Think you'll have any for local sale/pick-up this season?

 

[PleasantValleyHops]

Well, on the plus side, I think you'll have one of the best vistas available to a hand hop harvester!

Still no pest (mildew, bug, animal) problems, I take it?

Do you expect to harvest and package all your varieties or are some not as well established yet?

Do you find the cones all tending to be rippening at the same rate (per variety)? That is, do you think you'll have an ideal harvest date or do you think you'll have to just pick a date (for each variety) when some are over-ripe and some under-ripe?

Think you'll have any for local sale/pick-up this season?

Ill pm on the last question as i cannot discuss that. Looks like harvest will be in a week or so. Peob goinng to use our basket to just go up and pick in the air. An leave bines up. Actually had 2 cases of bag worms. But we cut that part of the plant off and it didnt do any real damage. Def no mildews at all. Where were located is inbetween two mountains. Which oddly enough makes us have our own ecosystem. Very rare rain and decent winds alll the time. Keeps up top dry and we our almost weed free around each crown which helps too.

 

[PleasantValleyHops]

Harvest is going to be this sunday for most of the cascades. Have some plants still going up and just starting to burr tho so have a later harvest also

 

[sok454]

Looks awesome man!

 

[PleasantValleyHops]

Looks awesome man!

ThanKs.


Yea. Looks like we're still on for harvest tomorrow. Few more pics

 

[emyers]

Hey, I live in Waldorf, if you need any help next season hit me up. Will work for hops or beer

What did you treat those poles bases with? Tar?

 

[PleasantValleyHops]

Hey, I live in Waldorf, if you need any help next season hit me up. Will work for hops or beer

What did you treat those poles bases with? Tar?

Sounds good. Can always use a little help!! The bottoms are all treated with foundation coating. U use that bc its non leaching. So you dont have to worry about it effecting the soil around it.

Thanks.

 

[farmhouse]

Thanks for sharing so much information. My family has some farmland a few hours south of you in the valley and I am starting to do some research in growing hops. I suppose the best thing to do first would be to send of a few soil samples for testing and then treat the soil over the winter to prepare for the first planting?

 

[PleasantValleyHops]

Well. The new season is quickly approaching and even tho we are fighting snow to get things done. We've been able to out there and get some work done.
Had some trench work that needed to be done for our new irrigation set up. And have conduit ran out to the center of the field for electrical. Just because your out in a field doesn't mean u shouldn't be able to jam out with some music.
Took advantage of nice weather last weekend and tightened up cables and anchors.



Pleasant Valley Hops inc.
Carroll Brewing Company
Frederick Md

 

[PleasantValleyHops]

And one day later

Pleasant Valley Hops inc.
Carroll Brewing Company
Frederick Md

 

[Bullington]

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Look at all that good looking dirt. We have a good amount of river rock we have to navigate.

 

[PleasantValleyHops]

Thanks. Yea the top spill is pretty nice around this way. We still use Los of compost too

So I wanted to throw it out there. On July 12th. We will be having a home brew day at the farm. We have very good water and plenty of room and electricity. So no rig is too big. This will start around 9 am for all grain and 11 for extract. Please contact me if interested. We will have the grill going. Have some burgers and hot dogs. Just an enjoyable day brewing and hanging out.

You can email me or call with any questions.
[email protected]
(240) 529-2747

Thanks

 

[PleasantValleyHops]

A few from stringing days. Ended up with some freaking wind!! Makes it a little hard for the ground guy