AbstractCommercial harvestings of hops (Humulus lupuhlus L, var., Pride of Ringwood) were conducted over a 5 week period encompassing normal harvest time. The effect on yield and α‐acid content of the crop was determined, as was the effect on the subsequent crop. Although the yields of hops and α‐acid from the first crop were found to plateau for at least 4 weeks, beginning 2 weeks prior to normal harvest, the time of harvesting exercised a significant effect on the yield for the following season. The magnitude of the effect was generally found to correlate with the length of time between training and harvesting of the initial crop, i.e. the shorter the time, the lower the yield of the subsequent crop.