I noticed my hops were already starting to emerge the other day, despite the subfreezing temperatures we’ve been having here. So, I took the opportunity today to do some weeding and clearing around my hops to prepare for spring!
These Cascade hops are only two years old, and I didn’t harvest them at all last year, opting instead to let them focus on growth. Year three is when hops are typically mature enough for a first decent harvest, so I’m hoping to get a few fresh cones to brew with come fall.
I weeded the pots and pulled off all the old bines from last year. I also restrung the twine for the hops to climb—I used a thicker twine and it’s still in good shape, despite sitting out in the weather for a year.
Next year, I’m planning to finally move these out of pots to a more permanent location, but for now, the pots are working OK and the hops are still alive!