Just picked my first home grown hops.

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by sderenne, Aug 14, 2016.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. sderenne

    sderenne Initiate (0) Jul 20, 2013 California

    Planted some cascade hops in the spring that I had in pots last year. My back yard has very little growing room left but I found a spot where one plant did well. I have been eyeing them for a few weeks now trying to find the time to harvest. I decided today was good because I am going on a trip tomorrow. They felt crackly and smelled good. I did no pruning or stringing. I just let them go on my fence. They are now drying in the garage and should be plenty dry when I return. A wet hop brew would have been nice but just too busy at this time. These cascade will be used mostly in late additions.[​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    #1 sderenne, Aug 14, 2016
    zizouandyuki, azurel, GormBrewhouse and 4 others like this.
  2. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Nice looking Cascades, but they don't look even close to harvesting to me...wait until some brown/yellow appear on the ends of the bracts...regardless of your schedule. :slight_smile:
     
    #2 GreenKrusty101, Aug 15, 2016
    JackHorzempa, bushycook and JohnSnowNW like this.
  3. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    As stated, those were not quite ready to harvest. I have made that mistake myself.
     
    #3 JohnSnowNW, Aug 15, 2016
    bushycook and GreenKrusty101 like this.
  4. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Yup, you want to see a bit of browning on the cone before you harvest. I personally shoot for something like 25% of the cone being brown.dried.

    Cheers!
     
    #4 JackHorzempa, Aug 15, 2016
  5. dmtaylor

    dmtaylor Savant (1,149) Dec 30, 2003 Wisconsin

    I'm lazy these days. Last year I didn't even harvest my Cascades because they finish so late. But I've never missed a Hallertau harvest, those are my favorite hops and I use them in almost every batch. Like the others suggested, I also wait until mine are turning yellow and brown before I harvest. If still a bright green then they have a ways to go. I figured that out after the first couple years. You'll find that once they turn yellow and brown they get more sticky with more lupulin and smell super fragrant. The best ones I get are the big yellow ones at the top of the string that get the most sunlight. The ones hiding behind leaves 'n' stuff never reach the same level of awesomeness. Of course, when you harvest all of them together like I do then this all averages out to medium awesomeness.
     
    #5 dmtaylor, Aug 15, 2016
    Lukass likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.