Variety traits

Vegetation period of hops

Humulus lupulus L.

This is the time from the beginning of spring shoot regrowth to the point when the cones reach technical maturity. This indicator serves as the basis for categorizing varieties into maturity groups and planning harvest dates.

In the reference 8 varieties crop Common hop, where this is mentioned in the description.

The vegetation duration of European hop varieties varies from 110 to 130 days. Varieties are classified by maturity terms, where early-maturing specimens reach technical readiness closer to the lower bound of the range, while late-maturing ones require more time to achieve optimal quality characteristics.

Technical maturity is determined based on phenological observations, which take into account the content of alpha acids and essential oils in the cones, as well as moisture levels. Accounting for the vegetation period allows agronomists to optimize the harvesting schedule, mitigating the risks of crop damage from autumn frosts.

Intensive growth of the aerial part of the hop plant occurs during the first half of the period, requiring increased supplies of moisture and nutrients. Deviations in development caused by drought or heat deficits can shorten the vegetation period by 5–7 days, necessitating prompt adjustments to agrotechnical practices.

General information about the subject — on the page Vegetation period.

Sources8

Varieties of Common hop mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.