Trimming my Bush

[Muddydisco]

Ok so the race up my hop tower is now over with the Northdown 2" from the pulley.

Question is can I trim them back? Will it cause and short term or long term damage? And is there any special way of doing so?

If Not tomorrow I will have a tangled up hop frame and No way of getting 5m into the air to free them off! :shock:

 

[Tony]

:rofl:

No idea at all, I'm a hop-growing virgin too. Love the message title though!

 

[31bb3]

Blimey thats shot up since last week nice 1 mate :thumb:

 

[bolty]

When they get to the top they will wave around a bit in the air, and then double back on themselves then grow back up. It is best to leave them be and that way get the best growth (especially on 1st year plants so they can get good roots). :thumb:

 

[evanvine]

Nic
Get those growing tips cut back ASAP!
Cut them at least 750mm from your pulleys, I cut mine back last week.
No damage will be done, but watch them bush out.
More "anti tangle" trimming will be necessary later.

 

[evanvine]

Sorry to contradict you Bolty, I didn't see your post untill after I'd sent mine.
The problem is that if the bines interlock at the top of the "wigwam" you can't lower them.
Their root system will also be quite well established if they've grown that high.

 

[Muddydisco]

Sorry Bolty Mine can't keep growing as they will tangle up my lowering system. So they need to be cut back and if jim is right then `My bush will get thicker :lol:
Will post pics Later :thumb:

 

[Aleman]

As Jim has said . . . Pinch out the growing tips . . . although how you are going to do that when they are 5m in the air :hmm: . . . 5m is only 16 feet . . . IIRC most non dwarf hops grow to around 20-30feet . . .

I think you'll need an extension to your erection Nick :lol:

Commercial growers use a huge frame at about 20 feet high but it has cross pieces that they grow along as well so they don't have to worry about it

 

[Tony]

My dwarf has already made it to 15 feet, I'm hoping it will bush-out now!

 

[Muddydisco]

Each strand is on a pulley Aleman with it coming back down the centre pole so All I have to do is unhook the starnd I want to work on and lower the whole vine down. This is why I need to keep it trimmed else I won't be able to lower them and the only way forward after that is the gas axe to the pole and timber!

I shall work on an extension for next years growth :hmm:

 

[Muddydisco]

The top with the cut down to size hops you can see the pulley and the rope going back down the centre pole if the hop passes the pulley nothing is accessible

The bottom fixings for the ropes I attach a small lenght of rope to the hook and lower the main rope down to get to the hops. I hope pigeon poo is good for the hops
If not please tell me cos I'll eat them if not ( the Pigeons that is not the hops)