Honeybees

BigMarv1085 · Apr 26, 2015

just got a few hives for my birthday, anyone know of a good crop to plant for the summer. Been told that buckwheat was pretty good and sunflowers

Glenn D · Apr 26, 2015

(quoted from post at 21:57:41 04/26/15) just got a few hives for my birthday, anyone know of a good crop to plant for the summer. Been told that buckwheat was pretty good and sunflowers

It's all good, spring flowers make lighter coloured honey. Including fruit blossoms. Basswood makes the best honey. Keep them locked in if your neighbors are spraying. Bees canvas 3 Miles or so. So try and see what's going on, especially early in the season. Your location will have a lot to do with their progression. An how fast they will build up.

old · Apr 26, 2015

Buckwheat tends to make bees a bit hard to work with due to the fact they have to work real hard to get the necktur. Clover is one of if not the best to plant for a good honey crop. BTDT many many years ago and wish i could still work with bees but got stung over 150 times and can not work with them any more due to that

Texasmark1 · Apr 27, 2015

A bit of a side note here: One thing that I find interesting and convenient is when bees are feeding and get full of nectar they are very docile. This year it seems like every tree/shrub on the place is playing "female" and has blossomed out. I can mow by shrubs, elbowing them out of the way being full of blooms and bees and nar a one even attempt to challenge me.

The bumble bees and wood boring bees like Wisteria blossoms and same thing there. Really amazing.

DLMKA · Apr 27, 2015

(quoted from post at 19:57:41 04/26/15) just got a few hives for my birthday, anyone know of a good crop to plant for the summer. Been told that buckwheat was pretty good and sunflowers

They forage the15,000 acres surrounding your apiary. Planting a few things isn't going to much matter unless you have a couple acres to use for something like yellow sweet clover or buckwheat.

Buckwheat nectar shuts off like a light switch just before noon and makes the bees irritable while it's blooming. Trees like basswood, black locust, and tulip poplar produce more nectar per acre than any herbaceous source. Blackberry can be a good producer and you get the benefit of the berries. Honestly, the best thing is variety. In monoculture midwest it's difficult to get good honey crops if you are out in farm country. You are far better off in the middle of town or along river bluffs.

donjr · May 2, 2015

Bee Spit. Patooooey......

Honeybees

BigMarv1085

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Glenn D

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old

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Texasmark1

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DLMKA

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donjr

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