27
Jun
Hop Garden blog: making the most of the dry weather

At the start of what looks like being a long, dry summer here’s an update from our Hop Garden Manager, Matthew King on this year’s crop as he takes a morning stroll.
They say if your hops reach the top of the strings by the end of June, you’re on for a good harvest so we’re pretty happy so far!
- Fuggles hops make up 100% of our flagship beer TEA. Such a reliable crop, It grows quickly and is already showing signs of hop pins which is another good sign of a successful crop.
- By the end of July these hop pins will turn into burrs which will transform into the hop cones, ready for picking by mid September.
- Our dwarf variety of Pioneer is being left in the wake of the unstoppable fuggles! We’re less reliant on this hop, only using it for seasonal beers so nothing to worry about yet.
- Poppies help to add a touch of colour to the very dry ground between the hops.
- Farnham White Bine got off to a slow start suffering from a bit of Downy Mildew but that has been successfully cut back and is now catching up with the rest of the hop varieties.
- Damselflies flitter around the plants helping to keep the aphids at bay. Ladybirds have laid there larvae nearby and are also doing a sterling job!