Pruning hops to 2 bines

[Pegasus]

I planted out some rhizomes last November and the Goldings has 5+ shoots.
How do you remove the ones you don't want? Pinch out the tops (as in tomatoes)? Pull off from the stems? Cut off from stems? Another way?

[keith1664]

I just snip them off a couple if inches from the ground with scissors, it seems to work.

[Jackthehat]

Don't forget that you can also try propagating the cuttings. Not guaranteed to work, but worth a go.

[tourer]

Don't forget that you can also try propagating the cuttings. Not guaranteed to work, but worth a go.

As jackthehat said propogate. I put some in some pre boiled water and waited for the roots to develop then plant in small pots in a weak or previously used compost.
good luck

[Pegasus]

Don't forget that you can also try propagating the cuttings. Not guaranteed to work, but worth a go.

As jackthehat said propogate. I put some in some pre boiled water and waited for the roots to develop then plant in small pots in a weak or previously used compost.
good luck

Thanks Guys, I like the idea of propagating

[Tony1951]

Don't forget that you can also try propagating the cuttings. Not guaranteed to work, but worth a go.

I suppose you'll get a true female plant if that's what the hop supplier sent you.

How many shoots should you allow to grow on with a newly planted first year Rhyzome?

[Pegasus]

I'm just going to allow 2 or 3 to grow. Given it's the 1st year not expecting many hop 'flowers' and don't want to have plant expend too much energy producing foliage - better to get root system established.

[Tony1951]

I'm just going to allow 2 or 3 to grow. Given it's the 1st year not expecting many hop 'flowers' and don't want to have plant expend too much energy producing foliage - better to get root system established.

I'm not sure that leaving all the shoots will weaken the rooting growth. On the contrary - leaves create ALL of the energy the plant has. Roots only take up water and dissolved nutrients. It is the leaves that are the energy factory of the plant and make the sugars from light, co2 and minerals taken up by the roots. On a plant like the hop, the rhyzome stores some of this energy ready for the next season. It would be my guess that cutting back on foliage development would weaken the root not strengthen it.

This year, I'm going to leave every sprout that the plant throws up and let them do their job. When it comes to the following season when we want strong flower production, it will be a different matter. Then I will cut some of them back.

[scuppeteer]

For first year hops leave all the bines to grow. This strengthens the root stock and ultimately you will have a healthier and stronger plant next season. Each variety is different and some will crop heavier than others which is why they are cut back to differing amounts. It also depends how much room you have and how many strings you put up. A commercial grower will have 4 strings per hill, and will put up 1-3 bines variety dependant. Goldings are usually 2 per string, First Gold do their own thing as they're dwarf.

[Tony1951]

First Gold do their own thing as they're dwarf.

Granted what you said about leaving every bine on the first year, but are you saying for FIRST GOLD, which is what I've got, to leave all the shoots in the second year to do what they want? It would make sense since it isn't throwing out massive four meter bines.

[Pegasus]

Tony 1951 and

For first year hops leave all the bines to grow.

.

Contradicted advice from a professional hop grower but another search produced this.

So I'm now in the "let 'em all grow" camp. Thanks for the heads up.

[scuppeteer]

Tony 1951 and

For first year hops leave all the bines to grow.

.

Contradicted advice from a professional hop grower but another search produced this.

So I'm now in the "let 'em all grow" camp. Thanks for the heads up.

Yes, everyone has their own way of doing things and will advise on how they've always done it. Two friends of mine, who grow about 90 acres between them are in the "let 'em grow" camp. So obviously that's what I know as well. Works for them and me.