I must have a lot less hops than is normal this first year b/c I feel like I could pick all of mine in about 15 minutes.I harvested mine Tuesday night. I don't know how you folks with 6+ plants do it. Picking hops is SO MUCH work. Sure, you can sit down while doing it, but it took me over two hours to harvest just one plant. I probably got 2-3 oz after they dry. So two hours work for $9 worth of hops purchased singly or $4 in bulk. Hard to justify from a purely financial standpoint, but I do still like the idea of growing some of my own, so I'll keep it up. I just can't imagine spending 12+ hours picking hops like some of you with all those different plants must do.
knowing when to pick your hops for dummies
#21
Posted 03 September 2009 - 06:41 AM
#22
Posted 03 September 2009 - 06:55 AM
I filled a 6 quart bowl.I must have a lot less hops than is normal this first year b/c I feel like I could pick all of mine in about 15 minutes.
#23
Posted 03 September 2009 - 07:01 AM
Hhmm. You must be picking slowly. I got about 8 ounces (dried) picked in about that time. 6+ ounces Chinook and 1+ounce of Mt Hood. I still need to get the Cascades, Nugget, Willamette. Some did not fare well this year.I filled a 6 quart bowl.
#24
Posted 03 September 2009 - 01:20 PM
I started watering mine a ton when the leaves wilted and I had some cones appear to brown when they weren't really ripe.Since I am only growing Cascades it might be tough to compare to your other varieties, I think they are pretty idiot proof as far as hops go (part of why I chose to grow them.)It definitely seems like second year plants that are allowed to grow taller will yield bigger cones than what you see the first year. I will probably rig up something so mine can grow taller next year.Drone. That sounds good. Yes I would love to compare notes and we are rougly in the same geographical area as well. The cones that I have gotten while good quality have been smaller than I expected. I have a lot that browned out as well. I planted 5 zomes and 4 took off. I figure next year to plant more varieties and more zomes. This year was just to see if I could do it and it has been really fun too. I have one zome of Nugget that grew about 8-10 feet,vine is green as can be but there are no hops to speak of. I figure next year that will change as well. I didn't expect to get any hops from any of the plants this year either.
#25
Posted 03 September 2009 - 03:05 PM
I know your feelings about the Cascades. The varieties I decided on were the beginner suggestions so I am with you on the idiot proof part too. Two of mine are Cascades and they have produced the most hops of any of the plants. I have one Will and I have hops but not very many, its a slow grower. The Nugget I got is the tallest but there are no hop cones at all, never have been all season too. I will look forward to next year and see what they do as well.I started watering mine a ton when the leaves wilted and I had some cones appear to brown when they weren't really ripe.Since I am only growing Cascades it might be tough to compare to your other varieties, I think they are pretty idiot proof as far as hops go (part of why I chose to grow them.)It definitely seems like second year plants that are allowed to grow taller will yield bigger cones than what you see the first year. I will probably rig up something so mine can grow taller next year.
#26
Posted 03 September 2009 - 03:24 PM
#27
Posted 03 September 2009 - 03:33 PM
#28
Posted 04 September 2009 - 03:14 PM
I dry hopped with mine after letting them air dry. The two batches I made that way (IPAs) came out really good.Just a thought. I went out and harvested the rest of the hop cones from my second Cascade rhizome and all in all I would say I have maybe a half ounce dried weight of Cascaded hops. My question is what do you do with that? Dry Hop? It sure is a small amount but I would love to hear what some of you did when you had your first year hop harvest and what you did or how you used it?
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