Hop plants/rhizomes - growing report

[terrym]

After the bashing my two 2yo Prima Donna's in pots had in the heat about three weeks back with some drying out then followed by about 50% loss of leaves, they have slowly recovered with new growth and today I noticed some burrs. So at the mo all is not lost for some hops to harvest this year, and at least I'm here today to keep them hydrated in the heat, especially since its about 34*C in the shade at present and getting hotter.

 

[lapis12]

Thanks for discussing this topic in so much detail

 

[MiAlBrew]

Looks like my Prima Donna is finally showing signs of hop formation. Seems to be a bit later than last year. The plant is about 4 years old and has given a crop every year but the first. It doesn't seem to mind drying out too much but hates the wind. Last year the beast from the east storm gave it a battering and the leaves seemed to scorch and dry out. Still got a takeaway container of hops which I dried out over silica and used to dry hop a kit.

 

[terrym]

In about 10 days duration my Prima Donnas have gone from a few burrs to being covered with them in all places where they get to see the sun (my plants go up a pergola under it and then back over it again so not all the plant sees direct sunlight). So I should get a reasonable crop after all, and its only year 2. However last year I found the burrs that formed in early/mid August and later didn't come to much.

 

[MrL73]

Hopsters, when do you expect to harvest your hops? I guess that does depend on where abouts in the country you are, but I know of a few wild hops plants local to me in in west berkshire that I am planning on visiting and wondered when I should be looking. I was too late last year and they had started to brown and gone a bit garlicky. Is there a way to tell when they are ready?

Cheers!

 

[Gerryjo]

Hopsters, when do you expect to harvest your hops? I guess that does depend on where abouts in the country you are, but I know of a few wild hops plants local to me in in west berkshire that I am planning on visiting and wondered when I should be looking. I was too late last year and they had started to brown and gone a bit garlicky. Is there a way to tell when they are ready?

Cheers!

They'll be ready when they feel dry and paper like.

 

[MrL73]

They'll be ready when they feel dry and paper like.

Thanks Gerryjo - sorry one more question... how long a window would one normally have between being right and then being too far gone?

 

[Gerryjo]

You'll find them starting to brown so probably about a week or so depending on weather conditions.

 

[terrym]

Thanks Gerryjo - sorry one more question... how long a window would one normally have between being right and then being too far gone?

If its any help I am not too far way from you and last year I picked my Prima Donna hops during early-mid September. Looking at them today they have quite well developed hop cones (but not yet ready) right the way through to burrs still coming along. I imagine that I will be picking them progressivly as they get ready, which as @Gerryjo says is when they start to go brown and papery. Also look out for the lupinol changing to a mustard yellow. I did read somewhere recently that the hops are three weeks in burr and three as cones before they are ready and my first burrs appeared at the end of last month so that might be about right. And from my undersatnding you have a 'window of opportunity' of a few days when they are right for picking before they are past it.

 

[MrL73]

Thanks Terry and Gerry! This forum is amazing, such a wealth of knowledge and experience.

 

[Gerryjo]

If its any help I am not too far way from you and last year I picked my Prima Donna hops during early-mid September. Looking at them today they have quite well developed hop cones (but not yet ready) right the way through to burrs still coming along. I imagine that I will be picking them progressivly as they get ready, which as @Gerryjo says is when they start to go brown and papery. Also look out for the lupinol changing to a mustard yellow. I did read somewhere recently that the hops are three weeks in burr and three as cones before they are ready and my first burrs appeared at the end of last month so that might be about right. And from my undersatnding you have a 'window of opportunity' of a few days when they are right for picking before they are past it.

I've no hop cones as yet and it was September last year before I had any.Climate I assume as it's usually colder over here.

 

[user 18729]

They’re doing well down in Essex

 

[Honk]

They’re doing well down in Essex

They are doing well, my hop plants now in their 3rd year are nowhere near that stage.
I had enough cones in year one for one brew, nothing last year (but they were neglected) I've been looking after them this year but they are on final warning, if I don't get a crop they are coming up (if I can get rid of them)

 

[dan125]

The cones on my plant have really started to swell over the last couple of weeks and I'm starting to think about this year's wet hop brew.
Last year I harvested on the 15th Sept but think they were still a touch under ripe...

 

[Rodcx500z]

Hi Dan, should get a few brews from them, what strain are they

 

[dan125]

Hi Dan, should get a few brews from them, what strain are they

Its a cascade. last year I harvested 500g wet hops and used the whole lot in a single brew. There does seem to be a few more than last year though so I might try drying some out.

 

[Rodcx500z]

That's great , never brewed with cascade what flavours do you get with them, makes it all worth while growing your own wish I had some were to grow

 

[terrym]

That's great , never brewed with cascade what flavours do you get with them, makes it all worth while growing your own wish I had some were to grow

Cascade is now used in all sorts of beers in the UK. I suspect 15-20 years ago you would have struggled to find it. I use it in many beers and for me it has been really good for boosting a kit, with one of the advantages of using it being that it is relatively inexpensive compared to the other C hops. Anyway CMLs description is a good summary
"CASCADE - Both 2018 crops • (2 varieties available!!!) 3-7%AA (2018 UK Crop) & 3-8.5%AA (2018 US crop) • Dual Purpose Bittering and Finishing Hop • Flowery, citrus & spice with grapefruit the noticeable fragrance quite often. The lower AA version is more flowery, while the higher AA is more citrusy, both excellent though Good for flavour and aroma, but an acceptable bittering hop. Very popular hop among craft brewers. Used For: All US-Style Ales, IPAs, Porters, Barley Wines, Witbier"
I have used both the UK and US types they are noticeably different. The UK is definitely more flowery and the US more grapefruity. I prefer the US and will look for that.
Finally you can grow hops in large pots rather than in the ground, and they really don't take up too much space, you just need somewhere to allow them to climb. preferably in a lot of sun. I grow Prima Donna (First Gold ) in two large pots as mentioned many times above. These are dwarf type and should grow to no more than about 3.5m high compared to 'normal' hop varieties which can get up to twice that.

 

[Rodcx500z]

Hi terry thanks for info, I will try them prob the us version, I have three large pots with pines in which are on their last leg so yeah may give it ago

 

[dan125]

Yeah I didn't really get any of the usual grapefruity charachter in last year's brew that you'd expect from US Cascade - might be because I used them wet, or because I havested too early, but also probably lots to do with 'terroir'