Hop Harvest

[RossBee]

I'm new at the hop growing game. Have eight Cascades out there full of cones, some are starting to turn brown around the edges. Looking for some advise as to when to harvest them, I'm thinking now would be good, but I just want to be sure. Nice and papery on the outside, fragrant and somewhat sticky on the inside. Any suggestions?

[chalmers]

They're probably ready, but use these notes as guides.

Spread the leaves apart on the cones too and look at the lupulin glands inside. If it still bright yellow they are not ready. The lupulin will darken to more of a golden color when they are ready. Keep an eye on them every couple of days, you don't want the lupulin to start turning brown or they are no good anymore. Some people say another tell tale sign is when you start getting browning on the tips of the leaves but with the weather cooling down the way it is, you probably won't see that this year.

Matt is right on with the timing based on the color of the lupulin, but there is one more thing to consider when you are thinking of harvesting. If you wait, then your essential oil levels actually increase, the alpha levels peak before the oil levels. You are better off taking your time and waiting to harvest rather than jumping the gun and ending up with lawn clippings. Our centennials and nuggets were close as of yesterday, but we are going to wait until early next week so that we max out on the oil.

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[jeffsmith]

Sounds like they're probably ready, like Chris said. I'm in the middle if harvesting mine, so I'd assume yours would follow a pretty similar growth pattern.

[jacinthebox]

My brew buddy picked the wild hops down the road (cascade), and are drying now....his hops are also ready to be picked (cascade & sterling), my 6 cones (hurricane damage/didn't recover) will be used to dry hop a single glass of my tears

[RossBee]

Harvested tonight, about 10 litres worth for 8 plants, now on to the drying. Thanks for all the input, much appreciated, my hands have a definite hint of IPA

[Boondock902]

I just harvested the mystery hops that grow along the Northumberland coast. Found an old abandoned farmhouse – at one time the obviously planted hops as decoration around the entranceways. I don’t sppose anyone can ID them from the picture?

[jeffsmith]

I've got a little title over 2lbs. dry off my plants now. Just not enough time to get them all harvested. I spent this evening picking again to try and beat the frost and expect I'll end up with another ¾ to 1 lb. after drying.

Hoping the frost isn't too heavy here so that I'll get a few more nights to pick.

[bluenose]

Here's my harvest, any ideas on what I could make with them?

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[LiverDance]

A salad?

[canuck]

[HoweFox]

My harvest for the season. About 1lb wet so I probably about 3oz once it is dried...enough for a nice APA.

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[jeffsmith]

I ended up with a huge amount this year. 4oz dried of Centennial, 8oz dried of Columbus, 8oz dried of Galena, and 1.5lbs dried of Cascade. I could have ended up with about 3 times the amount of dried Cascade, but just didn't have the time to finish harvesting.