The hop harvest begins in late summer. Ripe fruits should be picked as quickly and continuously as possible so that they do not become overripe. Unfortunately, it is difficult to tell from the outside whether a hop fruit is ripe. This is how you can see if your hops can be harvested.

If the cones are parchment-like and light, the hops are ripe

Hops are ready for harvest in late summer or early fall

Hop ripening begins in August and ends in September.

If the pods are still very green and quite heavy, the hops are not ripe. Only when the hops feel like paper and seem dry have they reached maturity.

Open a fruit to see if it's time to harvest it.

open fruit

To be sure that the hops are actually ripe, you need to open a fruit. Just cut them in half.

  • fruit elastic
  • Fruit dry on the outside
  • yellow powder inside (lupulin)
  • aromatic smell

If there is a yellow powder inside, lupulin, and the hop smells aromatic, it is ripe and can be harvested.

Hop fruits do not all ripen at the same time. Pick the ripe fruits continuously. In no case should they be left hanging until they are brown. Then they are overripe and can no longer be used.

How to harvest hops

The hop tendrils grow several meters high. You therefore need a ladder to pick the fruit.

You can also make the harvest easier for yourself and cut the tendrils about 50 to 80 centimeters above the ground. Carefully detach them from the trellis and place them on the ground.

Now you can simply pick off the fruit.

Dry hops as quickly as possible

Fresh hops cannot be stored for long. You can only store it for several months if it is dry.

Place the hop cones loosely on a sieve and let them air dry. A convection oven is also suitable for drying hops.

tips

Lupulin, the yellow powder formed in the ripe hop fruit, is one of the most important components for brewing beer. It contains the so-called hop bitter. This substance gives the beer a slightly bitter taste and also makes the drink durable.

Category:

Vegetable garden