Hops To It

We are preparing our hop plants for the growing season.  We strung up the rope generously given by our wonderful neighbour Alan.  I always climb the ladder because Ian is afraid of heights.

Seamus and I trimmed the first round of shoots back today.  Some were already knee high!  This is to encourage a second set of more robust and productive shoots.

Luckily for us, the hop tops are edible.  We set the shoots aside and will blanch and sauté them in butter for lunch tomorrow.

I was happy to get outside during a break in the rain.  Seamus was happy to snip at will with big kid scissors.  A hoppin' good time was had by all.