For the second harvest our Cascade hops did quite well. This is one plant and it really outdid itself. We picked right at 10 gallons of hops over several hours. The bines (vines of the hop plant) went to top of this metal corn crib—about 20 feet tall.
This view is from inside the corn crib. The hop plant went almost all the way across it with some bines. We picked most of the flowers—the greenish, small cones. Though the fresh hops weighed close to 10 punds, we expect about 2 pounds dried. That will be enough for several hoppy beers.
After a few days of drying their weight will be reduced to about 1/5 their original. Then they will be ready for use or storage. Next year we hope to expand our operation with additional varieties of hops.
Looks great. That is a fun structure to grow them on, but do you cut them back in the fall? That must be a chore to pull them out of that mesh.
The last shot looks great! I am brewing an IPA/IPL tomorrow and have some fresh hops from other growers I might add at the end.
Keep on brewing and I hope you can make it to a meeting or two this winter.
Cheers!
Jeremy
Great work, hope the hops keep well and you have a wonderful brew! I can almost taste it already!!!