The indicator in question is the US Treasury yield curve, a measure of the gap between short- and long-term interest rates. When it is steep â meaning it costs more to borrow money for the long term â that's a good sign investors expect a quickly growing economy. A flattening one suggests a slowing one.
After your hop vine flowers you will begin to see hop cones forming. We know you will be super excited to pick them, smush them, smell them, brew with them, love them, etc.. Resist the urge because the hops will not be ready for harvesting till late August or September.
How to Check Hop Cone Ripeness. 1  Give the cone a light squeeze. 2  Pick a cone, roll it in your hands and smell it. 3  Roll the hop next to your ear.  The hop should be springy, dry and papery on the tips, and sticky to the 1  touch. Look for lupulin, the visible, thick yellow substance on the outside of the cone.