[thirsty]

I have a second year east kent goldings plant that is growing just fine, but I'm pretty sure it's a male plant. No cones, but lots of bunches of flowerish buds.

What do I do with this thing?

[a10t2]

Keep it away from yer wimmin plants.

[tschmidlin]

I have a second year east kent goldings plant that is growing just fine, but I'm pretty sure it's a male plant. No cones, but lots of bunches of flowerish buds.

What do I do with this thing?

Do they look like this?  If so they are burrs, give them time and they will turn into cones.  You can google hop burrs for more pics.

[thirsty]

They look more like small bunches of grapes. I'll try to get a pic.

[alikocho]

They look more like small bunches of grapes. I'll try to get a pic.

Do they look like this? That's a male.

[b-hoppy]

If it is a male, you could just let it go and see what happens.  I've read some debates on using seeded hops and none have really swayed me one way or another.  I have one male in my garden and it blooms at a point that only later ripening varieties have some seeds.  I think it's kinda cool!  Go for it!

[thirsty]

alikocho, yeah that's it. I am so bummed. After two years of waiting I get no cones.   

At least I have some other hops.

[morticaixavier]

where did you get the rhyzomes? don't usually see male plants available.

[thirsty]

Well I ordered a normal female plant.
Got it from freshops. I emailed them a few days ago but hadn't heard back so I figured I'd ask here.

[tschmidlin]

Are you sure it is fully male?  Stressed plants will sometimes express both male and female characteristics with "sterile" male flowers.  If it has both kinds of flowers, then it is a female but it is not a happy plant.  Make it happy and you should have only female characteristics next year.  If it is fully male, rip it out.

[pinnah]

I have a bisexual Zeus.  Its name is Pat.



I snip the males out...as there are not very many.

I have also had an all male Crystal.  That bastid never did get any feminine parts, so I let him have it with some Roundup.

Neither of these plants were stressed.  Both came from Freshops.  It happens.

What is a bit scary, is that I have hops in the garden coming up from seed; I also have one plant that appeared over 50m away from any other plant that I swear seems to be a cross between the male Crystal and a Chinook.

Hops are wicked prolific and have the genetic potential to take care of business themselves.

[tschmidlin]

The Zeus with both is probably stressed, even if it's not apparent.  Unless of course, Zeus are more prone to exhibiting this, and that I don't know.  But stress can come in lots of forms, the right temp, amount of water, nutrients, soil conditions, etc.  Some varieties are probably more tolerant than others, but I can't imagine zeus would be chosen as a variety to propagate if hermaphrodites were a frequent problem.  Then again, it could be a failure of imagination.

[thirsty]

I've been growing hops without a problem for five years or so now, so I don't think it's stress. It's way to tall for me to clip the flowers so I will just get rid of it soon I guess.

[tonyp]

I have a bisexual Zeus.  Its name is Pat.

you sir, owe me a keyboard. that actually made me chortle!

[stblindtiger]

I have a Hermaphrodite Zeus plant that I got from Freshhops as well.

This is the second year, and was not stressed at all. It's growing like crazy to tell you the truth. I just noticed the seed pods today.

Not sure what I'm going to do with it?

Is this common with Zeus?