Growing Hops

fwiw mine were still a tad waxy to the feel before the rain that followed my last feel, hope to find em papery AND DRY tomorrow, will keep fingers toes and all else crossed in the meanwhile.
Not a bumper crop, but a crop nonetheless from plants that looked like they were dying off last year (year #2) (heavy clay soil .. so expectations have always been limited, though i may consider repoting one if i can find a suitable container??

And so it begins.

I'd better get my new rootstock planted, its still in the fridge..!

These are first gold, planted last year. They didn't really produce many hops last year - although I didn't cut back weaker bines or fertilise them so hopefully this year will be better.

Spring has..... sprung......

Centennial & Cascade planted Oct / Nov last year have survived and on the up





A

Would it be too late to plant hops now?

It's also quite easy to take soft wood cuttings of hops I took 3 earlier this year and they all rooted. 2 inches of growing tip.all but 2 leaves removed
Base dipped in rooting powder and a little gentle bottom heat if available. I put mine on my grain bed compost heater.

My first gold are looking good to me. First year so nothing to compare them to though

My Cascade and Chinook have a good crop which already seem to want harvesting. Very early!

]Hops are a coming this is cascade its to the roof in first year. well would be if i could post pictures

[Joe1002]

its my lack of tech skills means i cant post pic via a tablet. Hops didnt get blown down in last nights storm. Cones look nice and big I see some pollen present. Think almost ready to harvest what is gonna be over a kilo of cascade. Im planning to dry them first dont want my wort tasting like green tea. Any advice as its my first time growing hops

xie xie nee jkp. Mrs B's eyes nearly popped when I said the plant hanging up the side of our house had to fit into the airing cupboard. Its grown 2 stories in its first season and is at the guttering of the roof via the drain pipe. (its a cascade from willingham nursery). I dried 2 tea trays full 3 days ago so will do another load. Im trying to leave harvest as late as possible to increase lupilowhatsit content. A few cones are getting an orange tint so I might have to step it up. Have at least 4 flat tea trays worth to go. So far aromas have not been so floral or citrus, quite noble in fact maybe that will change as cones fully dry, oxidize or whatever else, Ive noticed fresh sage does not taste like dry so maybe my hops will discover thier innner american soon. Lets see what happens.

I just spread my hops out on newspaper in the spare bedroom and turn them every day or so. They dry in a few days iirc. I just picked 600g (wet) from a single challenger in its first year, so I'm trying it out at the moment.

i have 2 trays 2 drawers and another pile of cascade hops drying in airing cupboard wow hops near top of plant were wonderful. long and fragrant.thanks for everybodies advice, Also went to check some wild hops plants I had my eye on...attention village of Weston...who picked all the hops near the sign to your village.

If anyone wants a cascade plants mine will start popping up soon. Ive one in a 30 ltr pot that would need a car to collect. Located near Stevenage.