Growing Hops 2022

Jack, I really haven't paid the much attention over the last few years since my daughter was born. It seems like the cones set earlier every year. They don't have much lupulin in the centers yet, so they're still young, but if I had to venture a guess early August would be harvest time for me. I will say they were ready for harvest last year around labor day. How do I know? That when I figured out I had the rona. I pulled a cone and crushed it and smelled nothing.

Edit, after further investigation there is definitely lupulin and these cones are just about ready for the kettle....

 

Here's a link to the Michigan State University Ag site regarding growing hops: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/michigan_fresh_growing_hops It sounds like early July is okay to fertilize, but the percentage of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and whatever the third one is may be important depending on a soil test.

 

Half my bones are still spurs. The other half are ready to brew with. Suppose I could do two fresh hopped beers....

 

This is 4th year my hops are dealing with lantern flies that have a negative effect on hops.
I don't have as many cones it seems as past years, even cascades.
Hope these bugs don't get to the major hop fields out west.
I'm in SE Pa.

 

Just following up, @JackHorzempa if I had used mine this year I would have had the earliest yield I have ever had. They are starting to go brown at the tips this weekend, last weekend, the 30th, would have been the perfect time to use them.

 

Jason, do you have any guess as to why your hops matured so quickly this year?

My hop plant has regularly matured in the second week of September and I am expecting that to occur again this year.

Cheers!

 

No idea. I have neglected them for the past 3 years. I water them, and that's it. They set some big cones this year. Weird.

 

It's been interesting this year. Now I see Cascade cones that the burrs were too small to see come to life. I do have some turned brown that get no leaf protection from the brutal sun but most are ok to a normal picking time down the road.
Only thing that I can't figure out is my Nuggets seem to be only producing hops near the top. They used to be prolific. Thought maybe deer were eating them. I doubt it.
Also, I've been growing Sterling for years but they barely make cones for whatever reason.
I may give up on them.
Also have seen less spotted lantern flies this year.

 

Are they shaded (or partly shaded) at the bottom? I just read today that is a likely cause for lack of production down low

 

No, they are in full sun.

 

My hop crop will b poor this year. Lack of care due to knee rehab is the culprit. Still, the nugget and chinook crop will b ok. Goldings and fuggles =crap, cascades will be good.

better next year

 

Here's to next year and a quick recovery!

Cheers!

 

Thanks

 

Picked a cone today to smell it and see how wet it was. I’m going to brew with them next Friday. Scratched the Marzen idea and I’m just doing a Two Hearted ale clone with my hops in the whirlpool. Smelled very dank with a hint of orange citrus. Had more vegetal smell than anything else.