This weather we are experiencing is crazy. In the Midwest they are getting blasted with ice and snow, especially in Michigan where like New York there has been a resurgence in Hop growing the last few years. This is in part due to the efforts of the Michigan Hop Alliance and the Northeast Hop Alliance, which has chapters in the northeast including one in Maryland.
While they are being blasted with freezing temps, we are experiencing unseasonably warm weather off and on. It seems we have been doing a balancing act between 70 degrees and then the next week lows in the 30's. This of course will play havoc.....like our VCU Rams.....on the natural clocks of the root systems.
In fact, many plants are beginning to look like they appeared in early March in terms of some new growth. If you look at the base of your base, you may be able to see this new green growth. As the ground has not really frozen over as of yet and the under ground temps are still relatively stable, the roots have likely been waking up a little bit. Almost like sleep walking if you think about it.
When the real warm weather or mild Spring temps roll in and stay consistent, the activity in the root systems will trigger and the season will begin a new like illustrated in the picture below.
Obviously, some cold winter temps will likely come our way at some point in January and this growth will likely fall victim to the cold, but it is good to see that these cut root stock appear to be poised for a productive vegetative phase next season.
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