[flbrewer]

Just potted a cascade rhizome this evening (pumped) and I have a question about the growth cycles. From what I gather the summer and fall months are heavy growing months, but what happens during winter? Does the entire vine go dormant and grow tall again in the spring?

[klickitat jim]

Yup. Chop it off a couple inches above ground

[Indy574]

Here is a good read for you.
http://www.growinghopsyourself.com/growing-hops/overwinter-hop-plants/

[flbrewer]

As a follow up, I'm reading a brochure that came with the Rhizome. It mentions that "this is when the flower is receptive to pollen and if males are present, wind-borne pollen will fertilize the female flower and result in a seeded female hop cone".

Does this mean you have to have a male plant around in order to get hop cones to grow?

[fmader]

As a follow up, I'm reading a brochure that came with the Rhizome. It mentions that "this is when the flower is receptive to pollen and if males are present, wind-borne pollen will fertilize the female flower and result in a seeded female hop cone".

Does this mean you have to have a male plant around in order to get hop cones to grow?

No. You don't want males around. The females will produce cones regardless. But if a male is present, the cones will get pollinated and produce seeds. You don't want seeds. But good question.

[hopfenundmalz]

As a follow up, I'm reading a brochure that came with the Rhizome. It mentions that "this is when the flower is receptive to pollen and if males are present, wind-borne pollen will fertilize the female flower and result in a seeded female hop cone".

Does this mean you have to have a male plant around in order to get hop cones to grow?

No. You don't want males around. The females will produce cones regardless. But if a male is present, the cones will get pollinated and produce seeds. You don't want seeds. But good question.

Seeds are looked down upon, but I have seen them with frequency in British hops, less often in American hops and once in some Hallertau Mittelfrueh(!).

The growth cycle is rapid in the spring, but not the fall. At the summer solstice the small burrs start to form, then the cones come from those. Where I live the cones are ready to harvest from mid August to mid September depending on the growing year and variety. I harvest of the bine, but commercial growers cut the bines down then for harvest. I cut the bine down in the fall, leaving about 2 feet above the ground.

Edit - if you are in FL you will have a much earlier harvest than I do.

Edit2 - http://freshops.com/hop-growing/hop-gardening

[flbrewer]

Just an update...who says you can't grow hops in Florida? After a month and a half, my Cascade plant is about 10 feet tall! The organic Cascade I planted next to it didn't fare so well. Much slower growth, tiny leaves, fungus, etc. Pics coming.

[flbrewer]

[flbrewer]

Never mind my bowing wooden stake and miniature hop! They just started budding over the past few days, of course I had to rip one off for pictures. The leaves aren't fairing too well at this point.

[69franx]

Love the pics. I will be growing next year in our community garden plot. Cant wait to get started!