How's everyones hops plants doing so far?

[johnrm]

Perfect Brett! Looks like a jungle.

[imark]

Covered my cascade last night cos of the frost. They're going in the kettle tomorrow. Sole reason for me growing them was for a wet hop ale. 

[Shanna]

Hi there

What should one do to the hop plants once the hops have been harvested? I would assume old vines should be cut back? if so how far should one go?

Shanna

[brettdundee]

I would assume old vines should be cut back? if so how far should one go?

All the way. One inch above the ground. They will die back anyways. Next year all growth will sprout from the root.

[brettdundee]

Perfect Brett! Looks like a jungle.

Pray for frost free week. Some hops went a little brown after the frost on Friday morning.

[Shanna]

I would assume old vines should be cut back? if so how far should one go?

All the way. One inch above the ground. They will die back anyways. Next year all growth will sprout from the root.

Interesting that you go so low. The vine at the base of my plants are nearly as thick as a finger. Thanks for the tip.

Shanna

[Will_D]

Just leave them alone! The final bit of autum sun will put in some final energy into the rhizome(under grounf root thing).

The first frost will kill off the bines to ground level.

Its like bulbs: After the flower has been dead headed just allow the foliage to die back naturally.

This way you get bigger bulbs and hops next year!

[brenmurph]

still harvestin...Saphir tonight...polytunnel full of Target tomora, have some helpers in for it...rewarding them with beer of course

[montofk]

Interesting and encouraging to see the bits of brown on that pic Bren.  was a bit nervous of mine as I'm only getting to harvest today and tomorrow. Think the low temps earlier in the week browned mine a bit... Any thoughts? Think its just superficial damage? This is about the worst example, other cones look better.. Still smell good n hoppy...

[brenmurph]

they will nbrown on the plant just like the leaves will wither. When dried the will dry up and brown a little.   Smell lovely and bitterness if very aparent. Enen tho dried when rubbed between fingers theres lot of sticky and aromatic resin which seems to be a good sign of nice hops.  Maybe next year we can have a hop workshop. I did advertise my first fresh brewday as an opportunity for all those interested in hops to come together that weekend but there was a poor turnout. I think theres quite a lot on interest and I dond see fresh hop interest dwindling any time soon
regards Bren

[delzep]

Fixed my fuggles plant to the fence the other day. Its just over 6 foot tall already 

[beerfly]

got a ekg and northdown the day weekend of the competition.
the ekg is doing well had already started sprouting when it arrived, left it leaning against a piece of string before the weekend and its wrapping itself around it every day or two.
no life out of the northdown yet

[LordEoin]

I'm leaving mine grow wild this year and only watering them.
This is their second year and they're really growing thick and fast

[nigel_c]

Mine are doing their thing.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s180/nigerford/beerstuff/2912E7AB-FC2D-4DEF-BA33-16FB7C4D9E83_zpsj9qxwnor.jpg

[LordEoin]

That greenhouse will get full fast