Growing Hops 2021

Just cut back my hops today. 5 plants, all with a good 3-4' of growth. Also took a spade shovel and worked my way around the crowns about a foot deep. Hoping to cut off some of the rhizome growth. Not sure if there is a better way to go about this?

 

Edge trimer for a weedwhacker or the like. I tried using a tiller attachment, but have too many rocks. The edge trimer can't get as deep, but I started doing it three times a year and have seemingly done well.

 

Although I'm not growing hops, I've been following this thread out of curiosity because I am a gardener. Maybe someone else who is a grower of hops will chime in on this specific question, but I'd guess that a plant would not start putting out rhymes to spread the plant until it has finished bearing fruit (hop cones) so that all energy goes up the bines. Later in the year may be the right time for chopping roots?

 

I find constantly digging unwanted rhizomes and discarding works the best for me in the spring. Use to be, I’d run my 6 ft rototiller down the drive road then up both outside edges of the hop yard. But that led to other problems. So in the early to late spring, I shovel.

 

Yeah I think all the extra rhizome growth I'm looking to cut took place last year, now all the new shoots are popping up. But yeah, dont want it to waste energy on them.

 

Walked out to my garden and it's gone crazy already. I need to cut em back and start fresh.

 

A friend of mine "sponsors" a hop racing program for a bunch of us. Everyone gets to choose a hop vine/variety and he tracks each vines growth to a certain height.

Like a horse race for hops.

Then there is an excuse for everyone drink some beers along with bragging rights. Stupid fun really. Thought I'd throw that out there for some pandemic relief.

Cheers

 

After checking the yard last night, the comet hops i got from granitebeard are in the lead as far as height goes. Still ow you a beer. Nugget is in second place while tettnang is in third. all others lag way behind with goldings again coming in last.

 

I think this is an un-sanctioned hop racing event.
You get to make your own rules. Anyone can play. Your mom. Your kids even.

My friend assigns the hops, because many of the participants are not brewers and would not know one hop from another.
Cheers

 

Dug up two of the healthiest looking Golding runts, transplanted and ran another string. If they all make I’ll have ten total bines; five each of Golding and Cascade.

Is your friend also the bookie?

 

Ripper, soon you’ll have to cut down the hillside for more hops

 

HA! No doubt.
The transplants are definitely down the hill. After planting and running the line I noticed it’s going to be an unstable ladder event to pick them. Another example of me forgetting to



......but I'll make do

 

that's all cascade. should be rocking hard in a few weeks here. it's already popped but got a burndown herbicide to control disease and remove bull canes. i'll be sure to post pics later in the season and some pics of the processing facility if i can

 

Excellent

which herbicide

 

Aim, RoundUp, SelectMax, Chateau and Prowl

 

My new neighbor decided to spray his yard with herbicide to kill dandelions not knowing my hop plants were close but i can't yell at him because I just sold him a car. I think some will survive.

 

yikes, 2,4-D drift is no joke. Are the tips of the bines warped and curling? Where do you live? I'm sure you can get them to grow this season even if you have to start over (which I hope you don't!)

 

He's a tree sprayer so he was going nuts one morning. They're fighting for their lives.