Anyone ever grow hops?

[JayPoc]

I'm growing hops for the first time this year...mainly as an experiment, but I do intend to brew with whatever I produce. Anyway, I assume the "fuzzy" things are the newly forming cones.





There is one problem though...I planted two different varieties, and I'm not sure which is which. I'm hoping the mature cones will be visually distinguishable.

[jal_ut]

Yes, the thing is awesome. I don't brew.

[HoneyBerry]

I've never grown hops. But they do grow hops not too far from me at the organic farm for the emergency food network. I helped them picked their hops harvest a few years ago. It makes a great relaxation tea. I have some hops in the pantry that I bought at the health food store. I think that I will have some hops tea tonight. Thank you for the nudge.

[Leezer]

I'm in my second year of growing hops, a cascade and a goldings. Not much happened with them the first year, but it looks like you have many future cones! I have a lot more growth now in year 2 and hope to use what I harvest in brewing my beer. It's been a fun experiment for me so far. I didn't know they could be used in tea, may have to try that as well.

[n8young]

I have Cascades, and Nuggets that are probably 5 to 6 years old. First year no yield(as expected), second year not bad, third year I split some of the Cascade rhizomes off and now have two Cascades clusters growing, and I get a fairly good amount off of them. I think in total last year I got maybe close to a pound of hops. The funny thing is, the timing of the hops finally producing also coincides with the timing of when I stopped brewing, so now I just give the hops away to home brewers I know. They smell amazing, they are fun to watch grow, and also fun to harvest. In my area, they are a big hit with Japanese Beatles(boooooo).

[JayPoc]

I've also had trouble with the Japanese beetles...this is what I have going so far. Not sure if these are the nugget or cascade. My wife and I disagree on which we planted where. Embarrassing situation

Anyway, here they are...