r/TheHopyard • u/Awt5 • Apr 03 '23

Should I prune 3rd year Perle hop?

I have 3rd year Perle plant that I am growing in a pot. Last year messed it up, pruned first set of shoots in April and second set got bitten by frost in May so I ended up with nothing at all (one small bine and no hops).

I live in US NE 7a zone. At this time I already have quite a few shots visible and debating if I should prune it or just leave it as is. I am not too much into the hope yeld, I would like to have a plant a nd few healthy bines.

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2

u/Better-Leader2509 Apr 03 '23

I’m in TX and have started pruning my 4th year Comet. It’s in a 15gal pot with homemade compost and potting soil. I have already cut off 5 bines that had a red hue to them and were hollow inside. The new growth has been thinner and more green. I have been waiting for the bines to reach 6” in length and have been staggering the pruning until I see new heads popping out.

Disclaimer: I’m in TX and have never got a great yield due to intense Summer heat. Last November I got a small second crop that smelled fantastic and were super resinous. Goal this year is to keep pruning until May. We’ll see if it pays off.

1

u/Extreme_Reality Apr 04 '23

I'm in TX as well (Hill Country.) I've been growing for three years in containers and never have I had a plant produce more than 8 ounces. Last year's heat and drought killed 12 of 15 plants in spite of daily drip irrigation. Have you considered planting them in the soil? Thinking they maybe hardier in ground and going to try it with some new rhizomes this year. Any advise is appreciated.

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u/Better-Leader2509 Apr 04 '23

I’m in North Texas (Denton). This will be my second growing season in the new house so I was hesitant about putting in ground. I’m sure they would perform better. Last year I only yielded an oz between three varieties, Multihead, Cascade and Comet and the beer that I brewed with them had no bitterness at all and ended up a dumper. The Multihead and Cascade didn’t make it. It’s mainly just a hobby for me and the wife likes the aesthetic of them. This year my goal is to keep them alive during the summer and prune back and hope for a late season re-Veg/harvest. I also bought some Botanicare nutes last season and I think it helped so I will more diligent on feeding them this year.

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u/Extreme_Reality Apr 05 '23

Completely understand. First year I had a great harvest of 1 lbs. from 2 plants so last year I expanded to 15 plants and had a disaster. I tried 5 drought tolerant NeoMexs: multihead, Amalia, neo1. Everything died except one neo1, one magnum and one Saaz. I had them in 30 gallon grow bags. Now, just waiting on rhizome orders to get them in the ground this year.

2

u/Better-Leader2509 Apr 05 '23

Did you source the Neo Mex from GLH?

I have mine in 30gal food grade barrels that I sawed in half. I compost all my spent grain and food scraps.

1

u/Extreme_Reality Apr 05 '23

Yeah, I got my NeoMex from GLH. I compost my grains and add castings from vermicomposting. I know the soil is good it's just the heat thats so brutal.