I've trimmed 5 shoots of my Prima Donna today as I'm only running 4 this year.
Hop plants/rhizomes - growing report
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Ive only been growing hops a few years, I have 5 varieties now and have been letting 3 or 4 bines grow (as I end up breaking some). I read on another forum recently that some folks trim ‘bull bines’, which I had never heard of and apparently this encourages a better yield. I have always just taken the vigorous looking ones
. Does anyone have experience of this?
My new bare root hop still hasn't broken the surface, ie no shoots at all. Getting a bit worried about whether I planted it out too soon, too deep, wrong place, or if it's just been too cold in Scotland for it to start growing. I also moved it in about February I think from the raised bed where I'd just kept it temporarily to its proper home and it had small, about 0.5cm extensions on the roots, so also worried I shouldn't have moved it then. Oh and worried I planted it the wrong way up or similar.... so basically a bit stressed about it! 
It's still quite early, especially I suspect for Scotland. Mine have started producing shoots very recently and it's much milder here than with you. Hops are total weeds (related to nettles I think) so I wouldn't worry. They grow as far north as the middle of Norway so are pretty hardy.
Also, bare root plants are much slower to get going than hops that are established plants like mine are.
Just checked my plants here near Malvern, The Cascade and Styrian Goldings planted 5 or 6 years ago are going well, but the winner is the Challenger planted last year, it's already up to my waist.
I don't know to be totally honest but I just kept the 4 strongest and removed the rest...Ive only been growing hops a few years, I have 5 varieties now and have been letting 3 or 4 bines grow (as I end up breaking some). I read on another forum recently that some folks trim ‘bull bines’, which I had never heard of and apparently this encourages a better yield. I have always just taken the vigorous looking ones
I’m sure it’ll be fine. I bought late cluster the other year and it did nothing for ages! Maybe protect from frost with a big plant pot over the top until it sprouts. Two of mine are 1-2ft high the others, nothing.My new bare root hop still hasn't broken the surface, ie no shoots at all. Getting a bit worried about whether I planted it out too soon, too deep, wrong place, or if it's just been too cold in Scotland for it to start growing. I also moved it in about February I think from the raised bed where I'd just kept it temporarily to its proper home and it had small, about 0.5cm extensions on the roots, so also worried I shouldn't have moved it then. Oh and worried I planted it the wrong way up or similar.... so basically a bit stressed about it!
Sadfield
Landlord.
Best get these Prima Donna's strung up in order to hide the unsightly metal pole and also the fact I need to paint the fence.
Should also get a good crop of Yarrow from that tub, too.
Should also get a good crop of Yarrow from that tub, too.
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My new bare root hop still hasn't broken the surface, ie no shoots at all. Getting a bit worried about whether I planted it out too soon, too deep, wrong place, or if it's just been too cold in Scotland for it to start growing. I also moved it in about February I think from the raised bed where I'd just kept it temporarily to its proper home and it had small, about 0.5cm extensions on the roots, so also worried I shouldn't have moved it then. Oh and worried I planted it the wrong way up or similar.... so basically a bit stressed about it!
Don't sweat it - my Early Bird is still only about 2" of shoot despite the mild weather we've had down here, and moving it will also have put it back a little bit.
As said above - they're weeds, they want to take over the world.
Well, that was a bit unfortunate. I ordered some rhizomes from Dark Farm Hops, but last week they send me my money back. Due to the costs of exporting to The Netherlands (thanks Brexit 
), they're unable to deliver. Now luckily my garden wasn't quite ready for the rhizomes yet, so maybe I'll take a short holliday next spring and just bring them over myself.
), they're unable to deliver. Now luckily my garden wasn't quite ready for the rhizomes yet, so maybe I'll take a short holliday next spring and just bring them over myself.My second year of hop growing. Two plants died back last year, so much so I couldn't see where them in the soil at all. This year they have suddenly gone 'ta dah' and sprung up like Triffids. Two foot long and pencil thick in 10 days. Very healthy. My soil is alkaline and plants do have a tendancy to bolt in alkaline soil.
I've had mixed success with bare root hops, 50% failure rate. The first one I put down to lack of experience, but I bought another last year and it still didn't wake up.
I think they should have woken up by now, even in Scotland, if in doubt just buy another, that's what I did last year.
Sadly that's not an option, this is a specialist hop not available to the public that was developed for growing in Scotland. I've been given it by the supplier under quite strict circumstances including a non propagation agreement. I don't think I'd be able to get another one as this was quite exceptional.
sifty
Landlord.
Took an inventory of my first harvest today. All dried, vacuum packed in weighed bags in the freezer. Fuggle on left, Cascade on right, 500ml bottle for scale...
Yield was ~ 940g Fuggle (2 plants), and 710g from the more productive single Cascade.
Taking into account purchase of plants, compost, fertilizer, dehydrator, vacuum sealer and sundries (and ignoring my time and effort) I've spent around $400 for $170 worth of hops...
Already made a brew using them though. Hard to put a price on that...
Yield was ~ 940g Fuggle (2 plants), and 710g from the more productive single Cascade.
Taking into account purchase of plants, compost, fertilizer, dehydrator, vacuum sealer and sundries (and ignoring my time and effort) I've spent around $400 for $170 worth of hops...
Already made a brew using them though. Hard to put a price on that...
Hanglow
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My new prima donna planted in november with a tiny rhizome has not broken ground yet but I checked it underground and it does have sprouts, so I wouldn't be too worried. It's been such a mild winter in scotland that I doubt any frosts will have bothered your plant in the slightest. The only problem might have been it rotting if in sodden ground
I forgot to post this earlier in the week, my Pioneer hop broke cover a week ago and is looking well 
I’m so chuffed it gets a visit most days to encourage it on 
I’m so chuffed it gets a visit most days to encourage it on
My Challenger and Styrian Goldings are already above the top of their support structures, can't get any higher with a domestic ladder.
My Challenger and Styrian Goldings are already above the top of their support structures, can't get any higher with a domestic ladder.
same for me, I run them horizontally when the reach the top (though don’t think they like it)
Approx 35 days apart
I've got a spare Styrian Golding if anyone on here wants it and can collect, currently in a pot. Located between Gloucester and Malvern.
Cascade coming on a treat in Stirling. 2nd year, and 5 strong bines compared to the 2 I had last year. Watching out for white flies as I had a few early on last year. Fortunately they were easily sent off and didn't come back.
The beer I got out of last year's batch has turned out great so looking forward to the next lot already!
The beer I got out of last year's batch has turned out great so looking forward to the next lot already!
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