20 replies to this topic

[Bklmt2000]

Second-year Cascade; only let 2 bines grow this year, but considering how well this year's crop turned out, i'll look to let 4+ grow next year.

 

Collected this:

 

and a side view:

 

 

Final tally: 13.5 oz dried, from a second-year plant.  I'll take it. 

 

About halfway through picking, the lupulin was making my fingers start to stick together.  First world problems, I know.  That said, these Cascades smelled incredible; resiny, Cascade-y, and even a tad bit spicy.

 

A pic of the final product, vacuum-sealed and ready for the freezer:

 

 

 

 

[neddles]

Yum.

[denny]

After dealing with 25+ lb. for several years from a single plant, I gave it up.  Just wasn't worth it to me when I can buy a year's worth of Cascade for $8.  As long as you enjoy it, go for it!

[MyaCullen]

After dealing with 25+ lb. for several years from a single plant, I gave it up. Just wasn't worth it to me when I can buy a year's worth of Cascade for $8. As long as you enjoy it, go for it!

Mine are shade for a 6x6 west facing picture window, the actual cones are a bonus

[djinkc]

After dealing with 25+ lb. for several years from a single plant, I gave it up.  Just wasn't worth it to me when I can buy a year's worth of Cascade for $8.  As long as you enjoy it, go for it!

 

Either you don't use much Cascade or you have a killer connection.

 

I killed ours a few years ago.  It just wasn't worth it and they really weren't very good either.

[Bklmt2000]

I look at it as an extension of my brewing; i use Cascade a lot, and being able to supplement store-bought hops with homegrown is pretty cool, IMHO.

 

I'm trying to get more into gardening in general, and with any luck, my Magnum and Centennial plants (both first years) will do better next year.

[MyaCullen]

I look at it as an extension of my brewing; i use Cascade a lot, and being able to supplement store-bought hops with homegrown is pretty cool, IMHO.

I'm trying to get more into gardening in general, and with any luck, my Magnum and Centennial plants (both first years) will do better next year.

those 3 are a fine combo. I've got Willy Sterling and Glacier

[Bklmt2000]

Thanks, Mic.  I tried to pick hop varieties that I tend to use the most, so I figure at worst, I'm supplementing what I already use.

[neddles]

I look at it as an extension of my brewing; i use Cascade a lot, and being able to supplement store-bought hops with homegrown is pretty cool, IMHO.

I'm trying to get more into gardening in general, and with any luck, my Magnum and Centennial plants (both first years) will do better next year.

Agree, I dont grow hops but I grow a lot of other stuff. There's so much more to enjoy from growing you own stuff than saving a few bucks.

[MakeMeHoppy]

I picked about a pound of Centennial and Columbus just to get the harvest started. Odd the cones looked ready to pick and I have them drying on a screen in my garage, but there is hardly any aroma. Last year it smelled like I was living inside an IPA. Maybe I picked too early so I'll give them another 2 weeks before picking the rest of the crop.

[denny]

Either you don't use much Cascade or you have a killer connection.

 

I killed ours a few years ago.  It just wasn't worth it and they really weren't very good either.

 

Cascade is going for about $8/lb. last time I looked.

Agree, I dont grow hops but I grow a lot of other stuff. There's so much more to enjoy from growing you own stuff than saving a few bucks.

 

Totally agree and we grow a lot of other stuff...heck, I even have my "magic garden"!  But the hops just got top be more hassle than they were worth to me.  I looked at it as a chore that had to be done, rather than something I looked forward to.

[neddles]

 I looked at it as a chore that had to be done, rather than something I looked forward to.

Yeah, when it becomes a chore you know you're done with it.

[Bklmt2000]

Yeah, when it becomes a chore you know you're done with it.

 

Agree with you and Denny; anything hobby-related should be fun/emjoyable, and if it's something you dread vs. look forward to, something's wrong.

[Stout_fan]

After dealing with 25+ lb. for several years from a single plant, I gave it up.  Just wasn't worth it to me when I can buy a year's worth of Cascade for $8.  As long as you enjoy it, go for it!

$13 a pound,https://www.hopsdire...ascade-pellets/

Harvested 8 pounds wet; that's about 10 gal volume in three hours with two people.

Added to the mash, the aroma is unmatched and stays for years, sorry we disagree Denny.

But it does kill the mash efficiency...

bummer

[denny]

Frank, it's OK...I don't mind of you're wrong!    But what you did is a different test than I did.  Glad to hear it worked for you.

 

And I have a great connection for local, organic Cascade that's a lot cheaper than that.

[MakeMeHoppy]

I picked about a pound of Centennial and Columbus just to get the harvest started. Odd the cones looked ready to pick and I have them drying on a screen in my garage, but there is hardly any aroma. Last year it smelled like I was living inside an IPA. Maybe I picked too early so I'll give them another 2 weeks before picking the rest of the crop.

I picked more of the rest of the hops yesterday and today. I was wrong about the aroma, I just didn't pick enough earlier. About 5 hours work this weekend and I got 2 - 6 gallon Home Depot buckets full and they are drying in the garage and smelling great. Now I need to start looking for freezer space.

[positiveContact]

I picked more of the rest of the hops yesterday and today. I was wrong about the aroma, I just didn't pick enough earlier. About 5 hours work this weekend and I got 2 - 6 gallon Home Depot buckets full and they are drying in the garage and smelling great. Now I need to start looking for freezer space.

 

you vacuum seal them right?  I find they don't take up much room once compressed.

[Bklmt2000]

I picked more of the rest of the hops yesterday and today. I was wrong about the aroma, I just didn't pick enough earlier. About 5 hours work this weekend and I got 2 - 6 gallon Home Depot buckets full and they are drying in the garage and smelling great. Now I need to start looking for freezer space.

 

If you're game, some pictures of your work would be nice.  Just sayin'. 

[MakeMeHoppy]

If you're game, some pictures of your work would be nice.  Just sayin'. 

https://s1020.photob...eHoppy/library/

 

I hope this link works I haven't posted a picture from photobucket in a while and I kept getting a message that the file extension of the images was not allowed.

Edited by MakeMeHoppy, 28 August 2016 - 01:28 PM.

[Bklmt2000]

Link worked for me, and the hops look excellent!