3 files, last one added on Jun 08, 2009

This year these cascade sprouts showed up early, on the first week of April we had some super warm weather and these Cascade plants really liked the warmth. Of coarse the 2 weeks after it cooled off but by the end of April it has been nice and rainy mixed with nice and sunny-perfect for a Spring start.

9 files, last one added on Apr 27, 2007

Out of the dirt for about three weeks now, these cascade hops have really been growing strong. The sprouts are coming out all over the raised bed and prusing has been as frequent as watering.

4 files, last one added on May 24, 2007

These are some crazy hop plants. The first two weeks in June, these cascade hops grew about 6 inches per day on average. I had to descriminate between vines and decide which vine to train up the twine. I chose about 3 bines per twine and the plant just shot upward. Lookout sky, here comes the hop bines. Last week, June 7th, horizontal bine arms started stretching out of the sides of each hop bine so I added horizontal twines to accomodate for this sideways bine action.

8 files, last one added on Jun 18, 2007

This photo set takes you through the 2nd season of these cascade hops being harvested from picking, pruning off the vines, drying and packaging into mason jars.

13 files, last one added on Sep 13, 2007

Before planting our new Perle hop rhizomes we soaked them in warm water for about an hour, then we dug a hole, layed the roots in there horizontally and watered well.

2 files, last one added on Apr 27, 2007

The support of this trellis comes from four 10 foot timbers were tied to 6 foot fence stakes (that were driven into the ground 3 feet). These were lashed together with thick sisal rope and screwed in at the bottoms to 3 foot stakes. The twine is supported by 2 horizontal peices of wood with 4 eyehole screws in each peice. These twine supports are hung on the 4 timbers with a hook at the top. At ground level, the twine is tied to 2 screw-in "leash holders" (for your cat or dog) and runs up the in a v-shape, then across the trellis and back down the other side of the trellis where the twine is tied at the bottom.

9 files, last one added on Apr 10, 2006

shows the progress of these cascade hop bines being planted and sprouting out of the ground in April & May of 2006.

6 files, last one added on Jun 02, 2006

shows the progress of these cascade hope bines climbing the backyard hop trellis in June of 2006.

4 files, last one added on Jun 23, 2006

shows how much these cascade hop bines are climing to the top of the trellis and then training them horizontally across the top of the trellis in July of 2006.

10 files, last one added on Jul 26, 2006

It wasn't until this month that the hop cones really came out! After only a few months of fast bine growth, these hop cones popped out of the plant like Kudzu. Being that this was this Cascade Hop plant's first year, I am amazed at how abundantly it flowered. I can only assume that the watering every other 2nd or 3rd day was really helpful, alot a weeding and cutting back of invasive rasberry plants too.

6 files, last one added on Aug 09, 2006

I clipped the cones on a 14 foot ladder and tossed them into a bag which was attached to my hip. To air-drying my hops, I setup a large screen on saw horses in the garage and told my family to keep the garage door closed for a few days while my freshly harvested hops dry out.

7 files, last one added on Aug 24, 2006

After the hops are done drying (about 3 days) I placed them into mason jars and stuck them into the freezer. This is done to keep the hop oils from evaporating and fresh.

7 files, last one added on Aug 29, 2006