Hop Plantation 2005

[Doc]

Hey Phil,

Grumpy's sold the rhizomes, as well as a few other brew shops.

My Hallertau is going great. It would be about 2.5 meters high. My Columbus has stalled after having great inital growth. Maybe the hot day today will get it going.

Beers,
Doc

 

[philski]

Thanks Doc... I will check them out. It seems this time of year is no good for planting is that correct?

What varieties would you recommend for Inner Melbourne area? I'm thinking of going for pride of ringwood to start with...

 

[Doc]

Yep, you've pretty much missed out for this season.
Planting is typically around 1 Sept.

As for the Melb climate, I believe most will grow well there. I know the Melb guys are growing a real mix of varities.

Beers,
Doc

 

[johnno]

Here is an update on mine. Pic taken about a week ago.
I left a lot of shoots just to see how they would go. As you can see they are growing along the fence as well as the stakes.
I also had a close look yesterday and they look like they are starting to flower.

cheers

johnno

 

[dickTed]

Here's mine finally kickin ass

Early '70s I worked for a week training hops near Wang(aratta).

The plants all had several runners which where all in clumps on the ground. There were twines hanging from the wires above. At each plant, we would take the 3 closest strings, poke them into the ground together beside the plant using a piece of broom handle with a little slot on the end. After untangling the bines, we would wind the 3 best ones up the strings, and prune the rest off.

 

[sosman]

Here's mine finally kickin ass

Early '70s I worked for a week training hops near Wang(aratta).

The plants all had several runners which where all in clumps on the ground. There were twines hanging from the wires above. At each plant, we would take the 3 closest strings, poke them into the ground together beside the plant using a piece of broom handle with a little slot on the end. After untangling the bines, we would wind the 3 best ones up the strings, and prune the rest off.

[post="99397"][/post]​

The image didn't come through properly, are there supposed to be some hops in there? h34r:

 

[Guest Lurker]

Its finally a bit warmer in Perth and the hops are going better. It seems tall long strings are the best way to go. After getting to 3 m high I wanted mine to grow sideways, but they dont like it and keep heading up. Each morning I have to climb up and wind the buggers along the horizontal strings.

 

[Martin]

I harvested my first flowers at the weekend, there are plenty of unripe ones still on the plant. Now that I've seen flowers ripening I know that as well as feeling drier the ripe ones also go a paler green which can be seen from the ground, even when the flowers are high up.

 

[Simon W]

Anyone in Perth got cuttings ready to go?
I assume It's okay to plant a cutting now?

Not fussy on variety, just something to get me started.

Simo

 

[Kai]

My wuerttemberger are to the top of their post, but my precoce de bourgogne got burned off I hope the little rhizome in the cellar is still ok. Not sure how my chinook is doing in its second year, have not been in contact with the gardener for a while.

 

[Prof. Pils]

Here's mine finally kickin ass

Early '70s I worked for a week training hops near Wang(aratta).

The plants all had several runners which where all in clumps on the ground. There were twines hanging from the wires above. At each plant, we would take the 3 closest strings, poke them into the ground together beside the plant using a piece of broom handle with a little slot on the end. After untangling the bines, we would wind the 3 best ones up the strings, and prune the rest off.

[post="99397"][/post]​

The image didn't come through properly, are there supposed to be some hops in there? h34r:

[post="99429"][/post]​

LOL BULK.

 

[deebee]

SimonW,

I will probably take some cuttings from my Pride of Ringwood some time this summer and will happily set one aside for you. It will be good for planting next winter/spring.


db

 

[Simon W]

Cheers DeeBee.
I was actually hoping to find one ready to go, coz I'm heading overseas in 6 weeks and I'll be back at the end of March.
But if that's no drama for you, we've got a deal.
I don't have another variety to trade, so whatever $ you think is reasonable for your efforts.

 

[Doc]

Simon,

You won't find one ready to grow now. Hops are seasonal.
Hop plants (rhizomes) are planted late August, early Sept.
Plants are currently coming into season and depending on your location may be ready for picking/harvesting.
Brewshops such as Grumpy's take orders and send out rhizomes around July each year.

Beers,
Doc

 

[Guest Lurker]

Simon W

As Doc says, no planting now. And Deebees cuttings make fine plants, I have a cutting of his that is growing really well compared to my active $40 Grumpys rhyzome, and even better compared to my Grumpys rhyzome that died, so a six pack of your best brew to Deebee in Spring for a decent cutting is a bargain and will get you on your way.

 

[barls]

hey doc im looking at getting in to growing hops next year can you give me some idea on what ones grow best in sydney

 

[Doc]

Hey Barls,

This year is the first year I've tried.
I'm growing Hersbrucker and Columbus. Both are going well. Doesn't look like I'll get many flowers this year though (which is expected in the first year). I'm not sure what other varieties the Sydney guys are growing.

Beers,
Doc

 

[barls]

thanks doc. ok im going to open the question up to others in sydney. which ones grow well in sydney

 

[ozbrewer]

SimonW,

I will probably take some cuttings from my Pride of Ringwood some time this summer and will happily set one aside for you. It will be good for planting next winter/spring.


db

[post="101951"][/post]​

DB, what do you do as far as cuttings go, do you take it from the leafy part or the Root?

 

[Justin]

Just clip any active shoot/end of any branch and place it in a jar of water. Doesn't have to be the end (don't cut the top off your prized plant, just any side shoot/branch).

Within a week or two it will have white roots shooting out of it so then stick it in a pot/ground and keep well watered. They are weeds, they'll grow from anything.

 

[ozbrewer]

sweet, Thanks Justin

 

[Borret]

I can confirm the weed theory and I put it to the test with my last round of cuttings. I put a single leaf in water 2 weeks ago and potted it last night. It also had an abundance of roots. Not sure what it wil do from here. I took photo's and will post later.

Consequently my columbus showed it's first flower yesterday with many more flower stems ready to bud.

I have a few columbus cuttings and would be interested in another variety of american hops. Has anyone got some small cuttings of cascade, chinook or dare I say Amarillo that they are keen for a postal swap with at the moment. I figure that wrapping the roots of a recently shot cutting in wet cotton wool and putting in an appropiate container and doing express post ( definately not regualr post in summer) would be a viable option to get another variety in the ground/pot and establishing before next season.

Borret

 

[Simon W]

WTF?! I was half way through writing a reply with 'Quick Reply', when the page refreshed (automaticaly?) and all was gone. Strange.

Anyway, Doc and GL, thanks, but I was already aware of the rhizome/seasonal thing.
I'm planning to buy a Hallertau from Grumpy's, GT say's they're taking orders in May.

I just thought, with all the talk of tip cuttings(I read the thread from the start before posting), that someone in Perth may have had one sitting in a windowsill or potted.
I figured theres about a month left of growing season before dormancy? I wouldn't expect hops from that, but thought it might get that first year thing half out of the way?

A sixpack of HB sounds like a great deal if DeeBee's up for it, dunno if the quality of mine will match his tho! I've only done two small(6L - equipment challenged) simple AG brews since leaping out of the K+K pothole.


Just out of interest, I've never seen any mention(here or on web) of what happens to the rhizomes in the off season, do ya dig them up and winter them in the fridge, or leave them in the ground?

Cheers,
Simo

 

[Chatty]

Definately leave them in the ground.

Chatty

 

[johnno]

All the buds coming up on my POR.
I will hopefully get about 50-60 grams of dry yeild.
I will make an Aussie ale with them if there are enough.

johnno

 

[Prof. Pils]

I agree with Chatty, and maybe some mulch to keep the frost out.(pea straw?)
Cheers Glenn.

 

[chillamacgilla73]

Heres a pic of the my 2nd generation deebee POR special. Last year I also purchased a Hallertau and Tettnanger rhizome along with a backup POR rhizome that ausdb subsequently purchased and is growing like jack and the bean stalk. My tettnanger and Hallertau croaked it due to crap home made potting mix(Compost, sand etc) that was too waterlogged and rotted the rhizomes in November. I have recently removed the black arm band and moved on......Look at the G316 Stainless trellis - worth nearly as much as the family car and has hops growing over it!

I will shortly post a pic of a hop plant I received from a mate of mine (Koffo) who lives near Pemberton. For those that don't know, hops were grown in the SW of WA some years ago(60's?) until I belive a virus killed off the industry. He found the plant growing wild over a fence line and he believes the strain is EKG or Fuggles(Not POR as to be expected??). I did a quick search to find out what varieties were grown around Pemby and Manjimup to identify what strain it could be but found naff all info. Any help would be appreciated. I have taken 3-4 cuttings of the feral Pemby strain and they are slowly growing in a jar on the kitchen window sill and I will offer them to any sandgropbrewers at a brewday next year.

Cheers :beer:

 

[Goat]

Chilla - my mum's family are from down there. Apparently, the Dam at Karri Valley (Resort) was built to water the hops and the paddocks out to the road were where they were grown. Was that the sort of area where your mate picked up his plant?

 

[chillamacgilla73]

Goat. Yes around that area, he lives between Karri Valley Resort and Donnelly River Winery.He saw them growing along a fence line one day and pulled over to investigate. I have sent an email to the Manjimup Shire and will conduct further research tonight.

 

[big d]

fingers crossed chilla that the council doesnt take the wrong view and spray them out of existance.
anyway for what its worth when i get down to perth later this year you guys are more than welcome to grow hops on my acreage if space is an issue.im hoping i/we can put aside a reasonably large area for hop growing and maybe make it some sort of annual hop harvest for the west coast brew crew a brewday and feed and whatever happens sort of thing.of course this is all dependent on how hops grow in the west and if you guys are keen on the idea.

cheers
big d