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Fruits, Nuts & Perennial Crop CalendarsHops Calendar
Hops climb fast, and each stage has a window for the work that matters: training, scouting and picking. This calendar follows the plant from dormant crown to drying.
Key points
- Plant rhizomes after hard freeze risk passes.
- Train a few strong bines early.
- Judge harvest by cone feel and dry matter testing, not a date.
- Check local rules and labels for any pest products.
What is the hops growing cycle?
Hops are perennial plants that die back to the crown each winter. In spring, shoots emerge and bines grow rapidly up a string or wire. Flowering and cone development come after the bines reach the top of the trellis, and cones mature in late summer.
Cold winters are fine for dormant crowns. Day length and your region's season length shape how well each variety performs, so start with extension guidance for your state.
Order rhizomes from a supplier that guarantees clean, disease-free stock, and ask your extension office which varieties have performed in your state. Write down emergence, flowering and harvest dates every year so you can compare variety performance on your own site.
When should you plant hop rhizomes?
Plant rhizomes in spring once the soil can be worked and hard freezes are behind you. For example, if your last spring frost usually falls in the middle of the season's early weeks, plan to plant shortly afterward and have the trellis ready.
Hops want deep, well-drained soil and full sun. A soil test before planting tells you pH and nutrient status, and nutrient decisions should follow local recommendations since rules vary by state.
A trellis is the biggest early cost, because the bines get tall and heavy when wet. Set poles deep and plan for wind load.
When do you train bines?
Once shoots are long enough to handle, choose a few of the strongest to train around the string and remove the rest. Train in the direction the plant naturally climbs, clockwise in the northern hemisphere.
Michigan State University Extension and others describe this step in detail. Doing it early prevents tangles and lets sun and air reach the base of each plant.
Keep the crown area free of weeds and mulch lightly if recommended for your region, because competition slows the first year.
- Choose the strongest shoots
- Wind them in the natural direction
- Remove weak or extra shoots
How do you scout for pests and disease?
Walk the yard weekly during active growth and look under leaves. Downy mildew, powdery mildew and mites are common concerns, but which ones matter depends on your region.
Use your extension office for current recommendations. If you apply any product, follow the label exactly, observe pre-harvest intervals, and protect pollinators. Applicator licensing rules differ by state.
Keep records of shoot emergence, training date, first flower and harvest date for each variety. The records show which varieties suit your site. Good airflow, clean trellis lines and removal of the lowest leaves in the way many extension guides describe all help reduce disease pressure.
How do you know when to harvest?
Cones are ready when they feel light and papery, spring back when squeezed and show aromatic, sticky lupulin. Growers often confirm readiness with a dry matter test, and extension publications describe how.
Harvest dates differ by variety and season, so judge cones and not the date. After picking, cones need prompt drying and cool, airtight storage.
Most hops are not harvested heavily in year one, because plants spend that year building roots. Your extension guide explains what to expect for your area.
What winter tasks keep hops productive?
After the first hard frosts, cut bines down and clear plant debris to reduce disease carryover. Mulch or mound according to your region's practice.
Inspect trellis poles, anchors and cables before the next season. A failed pole under a full load of wet bines is expensive and dangerous.
Plan drying and storage before harvest. Wet cones left in a pile can heat and spoil within hours.
How do you plan a small hop yard from start to finish?
Begin with the trellis and the site, because both are hard to change later. Pick a sunny spot with deep, well-drained soil and space to work around the poles. Think about how you will lower or cut bines at harvest, since hop bines can be tall and need a plan for safe access.
Decide how you will use the crop before planting. Homebrewers, small breweries and farmers market customers each want different varieties and different handling. Talk to likely buyers early and ask what they actually need.
Check state rules if you intend to sell. Food and beverage regulations, labeling and licensing can vary, and your state department of agriculture or extension office can point you to the right contacts. Write down what you learn each season, since your own records are the best guide to your site. Review them with your extension office before the next season.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 2026. Educational information, ranges only. Confirm timing with your county extension office.