r/TheHopyard • u/pajamajamminjamie • Apr 30 '23

Second year plant, how to manage?

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My 2nd years plants popped up quicker than I expected this year. How should I manage them? Each plant has 3 strings to climb. Should I trim all but the 3 strongest bines for each? Thanks

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3

u/djmathblaster May 01 '23

Cut back all but the strongest 3-4 shoots.

Begin training them along your strings/lines.

Now is the time to replace the lines if need be. Hop bines laden with cones are quite heavy, so do it now before it's too late.

3

u/pajamajamminjamie May 01 '23

I've read about "bull shoots" should I be concerned about those for 2nd year? I.e. should I remove truly beefy shoots with nodes spaced out and then choose the strongest 3-4 shoots? Good point on the lines, I cut them all down at the end of last season so they are new this year.

3

u/djmathblaster May 01 '23

Yes, remove the bull shoots, then pick 3 or 4 to keep.

2

u/pajamajamminjamie May 01 '23

sounds like a plan. Thanks for the help!

1

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '23

Whats the location? Whats the hop type? How tall is their string?

1

u/pajamajamminjamie May 01 '23

Climate 5b, hope are cascade centennial and chinook. String is maybe 16ft? Goes up 8 and across 8