Puterbaugh Farms Hops Direct: Are my hops in bloom?

Our Goal for this Blog

Over the years we have received and continue to receive numerous phone calls and emails asking many different farm related questions. Our thought is that we would try out a blog to keep people up to date on what we are doing here on Puterbaugh Farms and at Hops Direct.

We will just jump right into where we are at in the growing season with a very brief look at what it took to get the hops to the stage they are in now. If interest is actually shown and people are looking for more information we will continue through the winter and pick up the beginning next spring, which will allow everyone to get a feel for what a full crop year looks like from a hop grower's perspective and all of the many challenges involved. We hope you enjoy.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Are my hops in bloom?

In the past couple days, we have had many people ask how to tell if/when their hops are blooming/cones are forming/or if they have spurs or burrs.

It is already past the time in our season where most of the lateral growth occurs. The laterals will leave the main stem. Usually this happens near each set of leaves that are on the main stem, and you will note that the leaves occur in pairs and the laterals normally shoot off in pairs from opposite sides of the main stem. After the laterals have had a chance to grow the hops begin their next stage.

The formation of hop cones (on the farm we do not call them flowers) will be on the lateral growth not the main stem of the bine. Currently we are at the stage where they new cones are in the form of small burrs, which look like little spiky balls.

I believe photos will help more than words:

Close up of hop cones beginning to form.