Mmm, cool, the hop garden thread 8)
Centennials are the stars this year at my house.
I ran out last year and am determined not to let that happen again.
Cheers.
My camera sucks. These are 2nd year hops. The hop trellis is 20 ft tall. The hops are now at 17ft and the ends of the vines have spurs so I think that’s as tall as they’r going to get. 5 days ago I harvested from the cascade and the chinook. I found from making a hop tea that the lupulin is weak, compared to last years 1st harvest. The hops are on a pully system so I can pick the hops instead of cutting the vines, thus, getting about three harvest per season.
These hops are all organic. Despite having clay soil, I use no chemicals or fertilizer, just chicken and cow poo. I used Jute twine and saved a bunch instead of buying the standard Coir yarn.
I’ll post better pictures as soon as my sister sends me those that she took on her good camera.
I planted 10 rhizomes at several locations back in March. Magums and Centennials showed early growth but didn’t make it. Cascades are doing well. One Galena is doing well.
Here’s a Cascade and a Galena
As of late June the two bines above already have some cones and look like they’ll have a lot more soon.
I tried potting one cascade. It’s growing well, but no cones yet.
I have several others but they aren’t doing well and aren’t worth showing.
Great photos gentlemen!
My hops are forming nicely. I gave them a shot of nutes yesterday. I’m thinking about a late July/ early August harvest at this point.
:-\
what kind of nutrients do u suggest using? I’m thinking of adding some to the plants that are struggling.
That is really serious! I am impressed.
:o :o :o
… not going to post my hops after seeing those pics.
where are you located? I see the palms in the background, so it must be south of the ‘hop zone.’ very encouraging. great job!
His bio says Riverside, California, which is east of L.A.
Thanks guys…I live in Riverside, CA. It’s almost desert like conditions. The good news is that the forecast is calling for 90 degrees through the week. The noble hops aren’t doing so well (Sazz, and Hallertauer) compared to the American high alpha hops.
Hops prefer a soil pH = 6.0/6.2.
The best way to get nutrients to the soil is by adding various green manures to the soil. (clover, vetch or other legumes) These manures will slowly break down and add nitrogen to the soil. If you want a quick response then I would add some nitrogen to the soil through a more direct treatment like Miracle-Grow or other Nitrogen bearing product. Mulch is a great way to add fertilizer over the long haul as it will compost and add nutrients to the soil.
Her’s an informative article to get you going.
What method do you you use to measure soil pH?
I haven’t measured the pH of my soil, but the University of Delaware Agricultural Department has reported that almost all of Delaware’s soils are naturally acidic in the 6.0-6.5 range, so I take that advice in confidence.
First year growing hops. A friend gave some roots from his cascade plants. They seem to be doing good. Only problem is they are growing up past my trellis. I have just been letting them droop down, but should I trim them at the top to stop the growing?
https://picasaweb.google.com/110758456097083941678/Hops?authkey=Gv1sRgCOvXwYvcndHgzwE#
Update on previous post, as of July 7 they’re busting out.
They look really healthy.
My Cascade are coming along nicely as well. I am anticipating harvesting them within the next 4-6 weeks.
Willamettes.
Up here in Minnesota the early season was kind of slow going, but things are hopping now…
I can’t believe some of you are talking about harvesting already.
Goldings. Someone said earlier they would considering rippipng theirs out if they don’t get growing. Mine took 5 years of TLC, but I love the fact that I have some in my yard. The one on the right is the 5 year old, the other is a root cutting from it that is in year 3.
mod edit - fixed the img tag
a close-up of a Willamette.
and a Goldings close-up