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The golden hop that we planted last year is beautiful but can I use the hops with lavender in a sleep pillow or is it just the green hops that have the soporific effect

same I think. Lovely plant

yes you can.. and yes the effect is same...sleep tight ;D
Did you get lots of hop out of the plant...?...I've been thinking to grow some for just the reason to make a 'sleep pouches'..not that I need as such ::)..I can sleep on washing line if needs to be..

Please can I have some of your ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Goodlife. I've forgotten what a good nights sleep is.

I will take a pic tomorrow and you will see for yourself. Its supposed to be very rampant but it ok this first full year.

My plant produced loads of hops in its first year (about 5 yrs ago) but hasn't produced many since. Anyone know why that would be? I do hack it back fairly brutally every year because it swamps my trellis but it looks healthy otherwise.

ours we planted this year is a dwarf, only grown to 3' high so far, hopefully next year we'll have some hop flowers  ;D

My golden hop doesn't produce that many hops, nothing like what I'm seeing in the hedgerows at the moment.

It could be a male/ female thing some seem to give loads of hops other don't. But don't write it off, they do say the nice tender shoots in the spring are a good substitute for asparagus. No need to worry about cutting them off  as pruning the tips encourages even more growth. Not that you need it with this hooligan plant.

I hack mine right back to the ground every winter after the leaves have droppped otherwise it would take over the garden.

Please can I have some of your ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Goodlife. I've forgotten what a good nights sleep is.
...try separate bedrooms...that is the secret ;) ;D...nobody try to steal your duvet, put their legs on yours...
ahh..own bed with clean cheets and they are all in their place..tidy, loads of room, quiet....list of positives is endless...and when needs to be you can always make little trip into his room... ;) ;D ;D

...I could do some hops to put somebody in deep sleep without him needing any 'trips' into my bedroom.. ;D ;)..and I don't mean in a form of beer... ::)

Don't know what you mean Goodlife ;). Haven't slept since back started off again, usual story. More needles needed me thinks ;D.

Well I though I had taken some pics but when we got home I found that I hadn't. Will try again tomorrow ;D

Heres the pic I promised. Now when do I harvest the hops and how long do I have to dry them for?

Once your hops have started to open up..looks like they would be about ready now.....?
Cut it and hang it to dry somewhere out of weather..Greenhouse?...until brown/crispy...
and then the 'world is your oyster'...ready to go... ;D ;)

About now is the time to pick hops - well it seems to be in Kent anyway.

Interestingly hops are generally regarded to be in the same family as cannabis  ;D

Lovely pic btw!

Wow thats gorgeous ;D, I'm very jealous as ive been trying to get one going for age but no sucess

yours is lovely well done.
x sunloving

Quote from: goodlife on August 31, 2010, 19:31:40
Once your hops have started to open up..looks like they would be about ready now.....?
Cut it and hang it to dry somewhere out of weather..Greenhouse?...until brown/crispy...
and then the 'world is your oyster'...ready to go... ;D ;)

I've grown some to make my own beer ;)  But I am not too sure when to pick them - would it be a different stage than for a sleepy pillow?

It would be same for the beer..when the hops are opening up they are ripe... ;)

Quote from: sunloving on August 31, 2010, 19:59:53
Wow thats gorgeous ;D, I'm very jealous as ive been trying to get one going for age but no sucess

yours is lovely well done.
x sunloving

I will send you a root  cutting if you P.M me your address. It may be better in the spring cos thats when I got mine.That lot grew in 2 years from 2 tiny bits of root