It does take a few years to get good production, although some varieties in a good situation can produce the first year. And then the plants will spread so thickly that it's good to divide them every few years. I thin my hop shoots in the spring, so the few vines that are left get all the soil nutrients and light. Otherwise, they can get too crowded. But the spring shoots are really tasty, so there's a double benefit to thinning your vines! Hope that helps!