2011 Hop Plantations, Show Us Your Hops!

[matho]

did yours survive the hail storm mate, mine are shredded, doesn't matter they weren't doing well anyway

 

[cam89brewer]

I used to like going on this thread when mine were growing but now that every one else's are flowering and mine are it is kind of depressing

 

[DJR]

did yours survive the hail storm mate, mine are shredded, doesn't matter they weren't doing well anyway

When was that? I'm away for the weekend so if it was today I might be well outta luck

 

[matho]

When was that? I'm away for the weekend so if it was today I might be well outta luck

yeah mate it was huge we still have hail on the ground and the roof now and it was at about 2pm this arvo. Lots of rain too our roof started to leak and water was pissing in through the light fittings in the kitchen.

 

[DJR]

yeah mate it was huge we still have hail on the ground and the roof now and it was at about 2pm this arvo. Lots of rain too our roof started to leak and water was pissing in through the light fittings in the kitchen.

Gee, will have to see what's happened, insurance company might be getting a ring!

 

[bruce86]

Hey guys i had a look into having a crack at growing hops a while back (just research) and i spoke to a person at a brew shop who said that perth and north of it which is where i live doesn't really work for growing them. He said i could get a plant to grow but the they wont have the right oils or something. Does this sound right i kinda just threw the idea in the bin after that untill i saw this post.
I live in Geraldton which is 28 46' 0" S / 114 36' 0" E. i have read that they have trouble growing in certain lats but as i can see by Cats75 post he has had some luck.

 

[Doubleplugga]

yeah i guess i have had some luck mate, but that may also come down to the fact that the wife is a real green thumb. beneath the surface of my vines there is plenty of mulch and worm juice from the compost bins and i have no doubt this has helped greatly. I live at edgewater and the soil is not too bad in the yard either compared to the sandy soil found mostly around perth. they say Albany is the right Lat and Long to grow hops, something to do with the length of the day, sun time etc. but mate i reckon give it a go at least, you never know until you do. they seem to be coping quite well considering the heat and wind we have had this summer. I will be doing another harvest today and it looks like quite a good yield for first year plants.

 

[bruce86]

yeah i guess i have had some luck mate, but that may also come down to the fact that the wife is a real green thumb. beneath the surface of my vines there is plenty of mulch and worm juice from the compost bins and i have no doubt this has helped greatly. I live at edgewater and the soil is not too bad in the yard either compared to the sandy soil found mostly around perth. they say Albany is the right Lat and Long to grow hops, something to do with the length of the day, sun time etc. but mate i reckon give it a go at least, you never know until you do. they seem to be coping quite well considering the heat and wind we have had this summer. I will be doing another harvest today and it looks like quite a good yield for first year plants.

cool i might have another look into it. Thanks mate

 

[kalbarluke]

Bruce, people also said hop plants don't (or won't) grow in SE QLD, but they do. People have grown them in Bundaberg. I don't really see why Geraldton would be that much different.

Have a go and if they fail then they fail. But you never know your luck and your home brew will thank you for it if you are successful..

 

[hoppy2B]

Hey guys i had a look into having a crack at growing hops a while back (just research) and i spoke to a person at a brew shop who said that perth and north of it which is where i live doesn't really work for growing them. He said i could get a plant to grow but the they wont have the right oils or something. Does this sound right i kinda just threw the idea in the bin after that untill i saw this post.
I live in Geraldton which is 28 46' 0" S / 114 36' 0" E. i have read that they have trouble growing in certain lats but as i can see by Cats75 post he has had some luck.

The reference to oils is probably a suggestion that you won't get good flavour from your hops, however soil is likely to have the greatest influence on the quality of hops you grow.
East Kent Goldings are grown on chalk based soil which would be highly alkaline. I have highly alkaline soil on my place and everything I grow comes out tasting nice and sweet.
Probably a good idea to put in as many varieties as you can and see which you like the best.

 

[Malted]

Would be nice to see your Cascade cones alongside something like a matchbox for comparison when you pick them Malted. My Cluster cones are nice and big too compared to size of plant. They put the Saaz to shame.

I have seen other folks grow cones bigger than mine; like I said, these are the biggest I have grown in my yard

 

[bruce86]

Bruce, people also said hop plants don't (or won't) grow in SE QLD, but they do. People have grown them in Bundaberg. I don't really see why Geraldton would be that much different.

Have a go and if they fail then they fail. But you never know your luck and your home brew will thank you for it if you are successful..

Thanks for that ill def be looking into it some more then.

 

[Doubleplugga]

second harvest just done on first year cascades. 375grams today for a total of 502grams so far. I estimate there is at least 400 to 500 grams still left on the vines. should be ready to pick in a couple of weeks. some of the cones at the top of the vines are burnt slightly probably from the multiple 40degree plus days we get over here in summer. but the cones seem to be loaded with lapulin

 

[hoppy2B]

I have seen other folks grow cones bigger than mine; like I said, these are the biggest I have grown in my yard
View attachment 52302

Nice cones Sheldon Cooper. :lol:
My Cluster cones would be similar I reckon. They're very tight but some of the bracts are starting to open a little near the stem end as they ripen. I'll put photos up when I pick a few.
If anyone else wants to put up cone photos for comparison it would be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[jyo]

first year cascades, going to do my second harvest today. 128grams wet off the first pick

alot more this time around

View attachment 52282
View attachment 52283

They look great, mate.

 

[oaf]

Harvest day today!


Mt. Hood at the bottom, Saaz at the top - standard doorway flyscreen.

My hops must be a little different... they all matured at the same time no matter what size they were.


Mt.Hood top, Saaz bottom. If only they were all this big!

I know they'll dry out a bit, but how much can mature hops lose in weight??
The next shot has 50g piles when wet. I'll see what they weigh when dry...



Can't wait to brew with them!!

They smell exactly like they should: fresh 'n'sweet!! mmmm mmmmmmm!!!









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[DJR]

Matho you were right, mine took a belting. almost like the clouds fired shotguns down at everything in the yard. Damn hail.

Herbrucker on the trellis arch:





One hop cone and one burr left out of about 10 cones/burrs before the storm.

Cascade, totally f---ed




I hope there is enough life left in the vines to come back, going to leave them for a couple of days then give them a bit of seasol I think to see if they come back, they are weeds after all

 

[kelbygreen]

nice harvest oaf

 

[emmatt99]

G'day fellow hop growers,

Excuse me for dropping in this late in the season, but I'll try and throw up a few picks of this years hops. looking pretty good this year.

The first is from November, the other two are taken 4th Jan.
The PoR (2 yr), Tett (3 yrs) and Mt Hood (2 yrs) are doing well. The Goldings (1 yr) is a bit slow. Chinook (3 yrs) is doing well this year finally.
They are a bit packed in, but I'll try something else next year.

Matt

 

[Doubleplugga]

great looking hops mate, nice agapanthas out in front too dude

 

[emmatt99]

great looking hops mate, nice agapanthas out in front too dude

yeah, if it were my place, the aggies would be gone, but I have to use the space available.
As it turns out, the landlord is a ex-pat from Kent, so he is impressed with the hops.

 

[gap]

Matho you were right, mine took a belting. almost like the clouds fired shotguns down at everything in the yard. Damn hail.

I hope there is enough life left in the vines to come back, going to leave them for a couple of days then give them a bit of seasol I think to see if they come back, they are weeds after all

Mine were devestated by snails over Christmas when I was away.
I gave them a good feed of osmocote with trace elements and now
new shoots are sprouting and also new growth is emerging from
the old bines as well.

I am at Mt Victoria. Feed them and let then go , you may be lucky.

Regards

Graeme

 

[petesbrew]

I got another great harvest off my Perle vine on the weekend. Estimate it'll dry out to around 50g
Also there's a whole new bunch of babies shooting through.

 

[Malted]

Nice *snip*
blah blah blah
*snip*
Thanks.

 

[ledgenko]

Why is it this photo reminds me of Ace Ventura when nature calls?? Nobody messes with the white devils doo!!!!

PMSL
Nice stash of hops though .. Bet it smelt nice!

 

[Nevalicious]

Fermenting an AIPA withthem right now!!! Smells freaking awesome!!

Haha... *Snip* blah blah blah *Snip*

 

[petesbrew]

Fermenting an AIPA withthem right now!!! Smells freaking awesome!!

Haha... *Snip* blah blah blah *Snip*

Call it "Bring out the Gimp" Ale

 

[Malted]

Call it "Bring out the Gimp" Ale

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[GrainStain]

I do not have anywhere to grow hops so mine consisted as an experiment in pots to at least establish roots etc for planting next season.

[/size]

I setup a watering system that watered them for them to get through the heat of summer and just tied some string lines up to some palms in my yard. Very redneck!



We have just had huge winds in Adelaide and my cheap bunnings twine has snapped so it is time to harvest.


I am most happy with my Chinook. This was a tiny rhizome with only one bud and turned out the best.


During 38 degree weather, my dad was staying with me and fiddled with the water timer thinking it was for the lawn and as such, the hops did not get watered for 4 days. The Cascade suffered the most as it had the most foliage. A lot of it died off, especially down low. The plant in the round pot did not have a water reserve in the base and I lost 3/4 of that plant. I should still get enough for a batch.

 

[capsicum]

This thread has got me super keen for next season. When should I be on the look out for rhizomes?