Trim or no trim?

[slothrop]

Second year Cascades, do I trim all of it but a few shoots? What is the recommendation?

I'm curious to see what it would look like if I just let the whole thing grow.

 

[sarsnik]

I'm been told that you should trim it down to a few bines. 3-4 a plant. I would wait a little though to see which ones grow to be dominant

 

[NorthSide]

that is badass! my 2nd year centennials are looking pretty good but not that good. i'm also gunna wait and see before i do any cutting.

 

[jessox80]

This topic has come up a great deal lately. I have a year 2 and have been told that to maximize my hops I should trim ALL of the first shoots. Leaving a few of the second shoots will provide better yield and more consistent flavor. I am unsure of exactly when to trim those first shoots though.
More bines will not necessarily mean a better harvest.

 

[VaBrewer]

There's an awful lot to cut for me then...I guess I'll wait to see about the possible frost tomorrow.

 

[DarthMalt]

This topic has come up a great deal lately. I have a year 2 and have been told that to maximize my hops I should trim ALL of the first shoots. Leaving a few of the second shoots will provide better yield and more consistent flavor. I am unsure of exactly when to trim those first shoots though.
More bines will not necessarily mean a better harvest.

What would be considered the first shoots then? For example, the first photo of the thread above shows multiple shoots growing at various lengths, with several smaller "buds" (if you will) starting to form down below. My plants also look like this. Are the first shoots the tallest ones in that case?

I've read from a few threads on here to wait until all the bines grow at least 2 or 3 feet, then cut back all but the healthiest 3 - 5 bines. There's clearly some conflicting information going around.

 

[Stevo2569]

What would be considered the first shoots then? For example, the above photos show multiple shoots growing at various lengths, with several smaller "buds" (if you will) starting to form down below. My plants also look like this. Are the first shoots the tallest ones in that case?

I've read from a few threads one here to wait until all the bines grow at least 2 or 3 feet, then cut back all but the healthiest 3 - 5 bines. There's clearly some conflicting information going around.

THIS is the thread where I posted the email from Lynn at Great Lakes Hops about when and how many shoots to trim on a second year plant.

 

[DarthMalt]

THIS is the thread where I posted the email from Lynn at Great Lakes Hops about when and how many shoots to trim on a second year plant.

So yet another source, this time saying to let the first shoots grow 6 - 8 feet before cutting back the rest. I assume "first" means the tallest and strongest bines.

Well it seems like most sources are saying NOT to trim all of the first growth off but, instead, wait for them to grow and trim the second and/or weaker growth later on. This makes more sense to me since I cannot imagine how trimming all of the initial growth off could be beneficial for plant. I tend to think the initial bines would be the strongest producers.

 

[riored4v]

On my 2nd year hops, I've had the same questions. I recieved the following response from FreshHops:

Scott,
I recommend cutting off all growth in mid April. Then train 6-9 heathy vines that come up after that.

Hoppily,
Dave Wills
Freshops




On Mar 26, 2012, at 9:17 AM, Scott wrote:

> message: Hello,I'm on my second year growth for my homebrew hops. I was reading the info on your site and had read some conflicting info elsewhere. i just want to clarfiy the pruning that I need to do.With the 2nd year hops, I've read to trim the first sprouts down to the ground. Then when those grow back up, to trim it down to 3-4 vines after they reach a certain length.I've also read (which if i understand correctly, this is how your site recommends as well) to let the first sprouts grow. Let them grow a few feet (not sure how much...?) and then trim it down to 3-4 vines.Any clarification on pruning would be greatly appreciated.Cheers,Scott

 

[jessox80]

Information sharing is awesome; I was beginning to think I'd been misled.

 

[sweetcell]

On my 2nd year hops, I've had the same questions. I recieved the following response from FreshHops:

and to provide the counter-argument - here is what Great Lakes Hops had to say about this question:

ME: Dear GLH, do you recommend trimming back the crowns? one hops expert said that for second-year plants it was best to cut all growth in mid-april, and only select bines from the next round of growth. crowns are essentially second-year plants... thoughts?

GLH: That advice is for commercial growers who want their whole yard ready for harvest at the same time. For craft brewers who are growing our crowns first year, I recommend letting the plants shoot out and then pick the biggest four to six to train up the twines. When the trained bines reach 8' tall, start thinning the smaller bottom stuff out. The idea is to remove enough of the smaller shrubby bines at the base so mites and other pests don't have a place to hide. I don't recommend cutting them out right away because they do contribute to the new crown setting roots more quickly. I notice here at GLH if I prune back crowns too quickly they stall out - even the primary bines slow down. This is especially true for the European based varieties like Fuggle types, Saazer, Goldings, and Magnum.

so there ya go.

 

[Randar]

On my 2nd year hops, I've had the same questions. I recieved the following response from FreshHops:

I agree with him for a mature crown. If you planted itty bitty twigs last year and still only have a dozen or so shoots popping through, don't go crazy.

I have bines that are 3+ feet now and many more between that and the crown that are just emerging. I will be cutting back these first fast-growers, but not until I am sure there are plenty of secondary bines available and emerging.

Hope that helps. Also beware of people suggesting a specific date. That is a date they use for their region and may not be directly applicable to one's own specific location.

and to provide the counter-argument - here is what Great Lakes Hops had to say about this question:

Much better advice for young crowns.

 

[riored4v]

I agree with him for a mature crown. If you planted itty bitty twigs last year and still only have a dozen or so shoots popping through, don't go crazy.

I have bines that are 3+ feet now and many more between that and the crown that are just emerging. I will be cutting back these first fast-growers, but not until I am sure there are plenty of secondary bines available and emerging.

Hope that helps. Also beware of people suggesting a specific date. That is a date they use for their region and may not be directly applicable to one's own specific location.


Much better advice for young crowns.

Good call. Decided to send out an email to one of our bigger hop farmers in my area.

 

[Stevo2569]

and to provide the counter-argument - here is what Great Lakes Hops had to say about this question:

so there ya go.

Although not word for word, same thing he said to me.

 

[jessox80]

I think (but am not sure) there are two sets of advice going here, one set for transplanted crowns (essentially a second year plant but without as extensive a root network) and one for plants in the same location for a second year with established roots.
It makes sense that not cutting bines on a transplant would be beneficial since that's what is advised for year one plants to promote root growth.
The advice I received about trimming all of the "bull shoots," or first growth, is more appropriate for a true second year plant.