Hop plants/rhizomes - growing report

[NIGHTSKY BREWING]

My plants are going Mad ...see Instagram vid.

 

[dan125]

I've been having a few problems with caterpillars and then this week one of the plants (I can't remember which variety it is) is covered with summat. I've just doused it with garlic spray and will keep an eye on it, these are first year plants and I'm just letting them do their own thing by and large.

How do you make garlic spray ?? Sounds like it might keep teh critters at bay

 

[BillyD]

It's on the net somewhere but from memory I think crushed about 4 cloves up and put them in some boiling water over night and then just filled a spray bottle with it, no idea whether it's actually doing anything though.

 

[darlacat]

So my lovely big cascade has been decimated by insects/lavae
Does anyone know if these weird bugs are the cause of the problem or if they are helping like I presume the ladybirds are??
Also any advice about how to avoid the same happening next year would be much appreciated.

These are ladybird larvae - they are actually helping you with your problem! The ladybird larvae are feeding on blackfly, a type of aphid, which will be devouring the leaves and sap from your plants. I had exactly the same problem with a cherry tree at my old house, and found it very difficult to control the blackfly. The problem lessened in years when ladybird larvae numbers were high. You can't use any pesticides to treat this as it will just kill the ladybird larvae.

 

[Greg167]

This was my First Gold about a month ago. All 3 Hop plants (this, Fuggles and Challenger) have all got small cones coming through I think. I am getting excited and making recipes up in advance!

Has anyone else got ideas already?

 

[Greg167]

Been away for a couple of weeks and the Hop comes have come on loads, Fuggles is miles ahead. Looks like a massive crop of those! How is everyone else’s coming along?

 

[BillyD]

I was down in Wales last week and went to the National Gardens, they had about 5 varieties planted and all were in different stages, think it was the Phoenix that already had decent sized cones on. Mine at home (first year) are only now just starting to show flowers.

 

[prog99]

I've had flowers appearing for the last week or so

IMG_2145

• prog99
• Aug 16, 2018
• 1
• hops

 

[BeerCat]

I neglected mine and they did nothing. I will put them in the ground next year.

 

[dan125]

My plant got way too bushy and was knocked back a bit in recent heavy rains.
There's still quite a few cones developing - these are the best of them.

 

[prog99]

Hi Dan, what variety are you growing?

 

[dan125]

Hi Dan, what variety are you growing?

Its a cascade - 2nd year
I was hoping for enough this year to do a green hop brew but I don't think there's enough.

 

[Dutto]

Just got this rather disappointing photograph of my Prima Donna in France.

Only year two so still growing but I think this years heat and lack of rain has put the mockers on any form of harvest this year! Looking forward to 2019 already. :thumb:

 

[Bigjas]

My Fuggle and Progress Hop plants are doing really well in their second year. I had an amazing harvest last year and it looks to be an even better year this year. Looking forward to picking and drying next month.

 

[prog99]

Just got this rather disappointing photograph of my Prima Donna in France.

Only year two so still growing but I think this years heat and lack of rain has put the mockers on any form of harvest this year! Looking forward to 2019 already. :thumb:

View attachment 15012

I lavished attention on my plant during the dry spell. Given I planted it when there was still snow in the back garden I think its done quite well.

 

[Dutto]

I'm afraid that my little Prima Donna is left to its own devices in France from the beginning of June until (normally) September so even the photograph is "extra attention"!

Someone has pointed out that all Hop Plants are "weeds" so here's hoping that this one goes mad next year. At the bottom left hand side of the photograph there seems to be a new shoot that has come up outside of the "bottomless" plant-pot that was supposed to contain it ...
... so that bodes well for next year! :UKflag: :UKflag: :UKflag:

 

[NIGHTSKY BREWING]

my Prima Donna is great this year will put a pic on my Instagram page soon.......NIGHTSKY brewery...future ales.

will do a wet hop ale.......

 

[dan125]

The cones have come on loads in the last week, but I have some which look almost ready at one end and tiny new buds at the other.
I can't see them catching up so will probably have to try split the harvest.

 

[Cwrw666]

Just had a look at my hops - cascade (2nd year) and prima donna (1st year) - and they look ready to pick.
Does anyone just pick the and freeze them rather than drying them?
If so what weight do you use substituting for dried ones in recipes?

 

[Greg167]

On Sunday I picked some First Gold and Challenger, as they looked felt and smelled ready. Perhaps they were but I always feel like I’ve picked too early, in hindsight. I went with 5 x the weight of the recipe stated amount of hops. Then I took 400g of the first Gold and put it in a food dehydrator set to its lowest setting for nearly 24 hours. The hops were crisp and dry and weighed 105g after the drying.

I’ve still got loads of hops to pick but they’re not spoiling so I will keep checking and pick as late as I can. I think I’ll do another green hopped brew then and dry & freeze the rest.