Fri Apr 09, 2010 10:34 pm
ResQ wrote:5 feet! crap! so, what should I do with these buds coming up? string train the first few when they reach the right height? I have heard rumors you want to trim the first few back, and also heard you leave them be. Weather is great here. do you fertalize at all?
You can trim or not. For me I kind of have to since the area I have for hops is way too small for how many varieties I have. Trimming them helps me keep them apart and leaves me some room to walk. Once they grow a bit more, i start trimming the leaves for the first foot or so to help air out the soil and prevent mold. It's also easier to see if any new shoots are springing up where I don't want them. The only fertilizer I use was the spent grains from the brews over the winter and the used coffee grinds for the last couple weeks. I read that the grinds have nitrogen but also decrease the soil pH (though I've never bothered to test the soil in the first place)
Ranger, West Point - Hessian Lake Division
Hessian Lake Brewing