When to harvest hops

I have so many hops bines. Unknown variety. Dug a start up from a telephone pole where a bunch of houses were removed. They're kind of small. Not sure how to tell when they are ready. Excited to make some sleep satchels.

elle sagenev wrote:I have so many hops bines. Unknown variety. Dug a start up from a telephone pole where a bunch of houses were removed. They're kind of small. Not sure how to tell when they are ready. Excited to make some sleep satchels.

Congratulations on your find and successful transplant! What is a sleep satchel?

Your hops look lovely!  Usually you want the cones to start to dry.  Here in hop country (Central WA), we start to harvest right about this time, but we had a late start to summer so our yields are late.  I see you are in zone 5, which is a shorter growing season, so I would say wait until they start to feel like they are starting to dry, as long as it is before frost.  You are right to think they are a little small - depending on your variety.   I'd say the average hop here is about the size of my thumb up to the first knuckle.  This is also a very subjective measurement, but I've never been a very spatial person.  

I like to make bath tea and tinctures with my hops.  I'm not a huge fan of the smell, so I'd have to do a low ratio of hops to something stronger smelling like lavender to do a sleep satchel myself.  

Harvested yesterday. Dried. Sealed. Frozen.

Angela said, "What is sleep satchel?

Pop one of these under your pillow!


source


Dream Pillows

Hops Water


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source

There are also some PEP/PEA BB (badge Bits) for using hops:

https://permies.com/wiki/162911/pep-natural-medicine/Create-infusion-hops-flowers-PEP

https://permies.com/wiki/152245/pep-natural-medicine/PEP-BB-medicine-sand-dryhops

https://permies.com/wiki/169012/hops-tincture-PEA-BB-Medicine

https://permies.com/wiki/169405/hops-flower-infusion-tea-PEA