tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.comments2016-09-18T08:45:49.119-05:00HopstarterHopstarterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15856693266798046700noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-10529326464524324902016-09-18T08:45:49.119-05:002016-09-18T08:45:49.119-05:00I'm interested in trying hops in central Texas...I'm interested in trying hops in central Texas.<br />Rob Hopkins has an article about his first year growing hops.<br />http://www.resilience.org/stories/2016-09-15/rob-hop-king-my-first-year-as-a-hop-farmer<br />I see you are having results with Cascade and Columbus, and wonder what your source is.<br />I wonder if Shiner beer uses local hops.John Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12123174297818737132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-58379330014001155932015-04-22T14:11:22.485-05:002015-04-22T14:11:22.485-05:00Hi Anuj
Are they new this year? Did the rhizomes ...Hi Anuj<br /><br />Are they new this year? Did the rhizomes have healthy looking shoots? Here's an example of what I'm talking about, at the bottom: http://hopstarter.blogspot.com/2013/04/new-season-new-state-new-hops.html<br /><br />Did you put them in the soil before the last of the cold weather? Once they're established they can over winter but I wouldn't want to expose a tiny, new, section of rhizome to extreme cold. Even being a couple years old is no guarantee though. I still haven't seen my Willamette this year, despite both the Columbus and Cascade really going for it (will have a new post up shortly).<br /><br />Also, although pots are practical if you don't have a garden you probably won't get more than a few years from them. The Hops in Pots blog (link on the right) records how they take a couple of years to fill the pot then pretty much just give up.<br /><br />Having said all of that, if they've just started peeking out then they'll probably start going for it like you won't believe very soon. When I've planted rhizomes in the past it has taken at least two weeks for shoots to appear above ground. Once they're going you can expect to see several inches of growth per day.<br /><br />Best of luck.Hopstarterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856693266798046700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-35445287696522383322015-04-20T06:30:14.533-05:002015-04-20T06:30:14.533-05:00Hi Hopstarter, I'm a first time hop grower in ...Hi Hopstarter, I'm a first time hop grower in Baltimore and, since I live in a row-home, I had to grow in a 20" pot on my rooftop deck. It seems like the cold/wet weather has made it difficult for the shoots to grow - they are just barely breaking the surface of the soil. Do you have any suggestions? <br /><br />Thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05450701732881053277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-63677259496924278802013-07-09T15:02:53.131-05:002013-07-09T15:02:53.131-05:00Thanks for the advice, even if it is bad news. Eve...Thanks for the advice, even if it is bad news. Even if they are mealybugs rather than ladybirds there isn't that much evidence of damage yet. There is some damage but nothing like what was happening last year when I had a June bug eating things. I saw a mantis on the Columbus the other day but haven't been able to get a photo yet. It seems that the mantis along with other things (I suspect there are at least some ladybirds around) are keeping the worst of it in check. That or the hops are simply outgrowing any consumption by insects.<br /><br />Thanks again.Hopstarterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856693266798046700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-10543697981615008052013-07-09T07:51:21.512-05:002013-07-09T07:51:21.512-05:00I believe the white fluff is a scale insect, possi...I believe the white fluff is a scale insect, possibly ealybugs, not a ladybug larva. There is a variety of ladybug called mealybug destroyers but they look a bit different. Sorry for the bad newsLost Pines Yaupon Teahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489802607025267044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-47213974921848606372013-04-23T14:20:59.591-05:002013-04-23T14:20:59.591-05:00Hi Steve
Thanks for dropping by. Shame you're...Hi Steve<br /><br />Thanks for dropping by. Shame you're not going to have your own hops this year. I definitely feel my hops were pretty well established after one year. I suspect they'd only go from strength to strength. Having them in a bed rather than pots may have helped though. I'm pretty sure now that growing hops in Houston is quite possible. Don't know if the next tenants will do anything with them.<br /><br />You'll be able to keep up with how I fare further North here at least :)Hopstarterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856693266798046700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-54589448226986493892013-04-23T07:57:16.506-05:002013-04-23T07:57:16.506-05:00Glad to see you got back into growing hops after l...Glad to see you got back into growing hops after leaving Houston. I didn't get my act together in time, again, to make another attempt at it. Good luck! Hopefully the growing conditions in DC will be better than in Houston. Cheers!Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14615424274166954843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-27290245880540953022012-05-16T11:05:50.501-05:002012-05-16T11:05:50.501-05:00I've never heard of any. It's possible nob...I've never heard of any. It's possible nobody thought to put the effort into developing new strains given how much shorter the day length in mid-summer is this far south. Having said that the Willamette and Northern Brewer both seem to be doing well. The Goldings is still making a valiant effort though. Remains to be seen if any of them give me any cones their first year though. Fingers crossed.Hopstarterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856693266798046700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-64033843328110533072012-05-15T20:13:11.180-05:002012-05-15T20:13:11.180-05:00I wonder if there are strains that are more suited...I wonder if there are strains that are more suited to your hot climate? Northern Brewer and Willamette are from my neck of the woods up here in Oregon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-50359649057381590272012-04-25T15:52:51.151-05:002012-04-25T15:52:51.151-05:00Thanks Steve. The Northern Brewer does seem to be ...Thanks Steve. The Northern Brewer does seem to be recovering. I'm now quietly confident that about the Willamette, whose growth rate is fantastic. Can't quite see it grow but I can definitely tell the difference between the start and end of the day. Just hope I get some cones from it now.Hopstarterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856693266798046700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-44731828444076721812012-04-25T10:38:23.114-05:002012-04-25T10:38:23.114-05:00Its amazing how fast they grow, you can practially...Its amazing how fast they grow, you can practially watch the bines climb the twine. Don't worry about the broken one (although I understand your pain and anguish over it, I've done the same thing), it will compensate by sending out new shoots. I had a problem with caterpillars for awhile which are really hard to see as they turn the same colour as the plants they eat. Plants are looking great though, good luck!Stevehttp://www.hopsinpots.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-73851255270359916792012-04-12T15:05:14.667-05:002012-04-12T15:05:14.667-05:00Welcome and thanks for the advice. I reckon once I...Welcome and thanks for the advice. I reckon once I've got a better idea of what they can handle I won't be so worried about them. It also won't be such a bad idea in the first year while their root systems are establishing themselves either.<br /><br />The Northern Brewer that was decapitated is certainly putting effort into growing secondary shoots off the same stem. Haven't seen any other primary shoots though.<br /><br />At least the Willamette is doing pretty well. Having said that, I think in future I would definitely get some Cascades in.Hopstarterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856693266798046700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-39444885576908387872012-04-11T11:17:22.460-05:002012-04-11T11:17:22.460-05:00Just stumbled across your blog from the GrowHops l...Just stumbled across your blog from the GrowHops list. I am in Lake Charles LA and have been growing hops for my own homebrewing for about 4 years.<br /><br />I do not think the decapitation will be a big deal. In my experience, the shoot will continue to grow or shift momentum to another leaf.<br /><br />I have had the best luck with Cascade so far.<br /><br />It's amusing to see how cautious you are being with the hops. I remember doing the same when I first started. Now they grow amazingly well without very much effort on my part. In this climate I've found some varieties will grow like weeds while others will not do very well no matter what you try.<br /><br />Good luck!TheNakedBrewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17309403775311612913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-18629141653766333002012-03-28T10:05:12.538-05:002012-03-28T10:05:12.538-05:00The reading I've done implies that cutting bac...The reading I've done implies that cutting back the first shoots to appear is only really to do with timing for commercial growers who want to harvest later in the year when it's cooler. I think for a small scale operation like this where I'm planning on harvesting as things appear I can't see the point.<br /><br />I have also read that you should concentrate on the 3-4 four strongest bines and cut everything else back. I guess people feel that having a tall thin plant is better for production than having it be more like a bush (short but with more bines). If I had two rhizomes of the same strain I might be tempted to test this. I also suspect it's easier to manage a few bines over many if you have lots of plants. It's also quite appealing to see just how high they'll grow :)Hopstarterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856693266798046700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-56444543773817827782012-03-25T18:48:41.265-05:002012-03-25T18:48:41.265-05:00Keep the posts coming. I'm curious how well yo...Keep the posts coming. I'm curious how well yours will fair in your first year compared to mine. My cascades have been giving me new bines, the tallest is about 12", and I've trimmed the rest. I've read I'm supposed to trim all the primary shoots and wait for secondary, but I haven't read how I'm supposed to tell the difference. I've also read to pick 1-3 of the strongest bines and train them up the twine without reference of trimming back any bines except the for those not being trained.<br /><br />I really can't wait to see what happens. I'm looking forward to brewing with both the cascades and the magnums, if I can.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07202322670941456618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-69918559091603642872012-03-20T08:46:46.888-05:002012-03-20T08:46:46.888-05:00Well lets just hope there is progress then. Going ...Well lets just hope there is progress then. Going to feel very disappointed if I don't get anything at all now.Hopstarterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856693266798046700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-74438457277273099462012-03-19T10:47:40.845-05:002012-03-19T10:47:40.845-05:00Really looking forward to seeing your progress.Really looking forward to seeing your progress.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07202322670941456618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-64120025054666231092012-03-18T10:19:50.036-05:002012-03-18T10:19:50.036-05:00Thanks for that. I have my fingers crossed that I ...Thanks for that. I have my fingers crossed that I at least get something.Hopstarterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856693266798046700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2628060304946427796.post-44862018276667683602012-03-15T18:27:33.463-05:002012-03-15T18:27:33.463-05:00Excellent, I look forward to reading about your ex...Excellent, I look forward to reading about your experience.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14615424274166954843noreply@blogger.com