Buckwheat

[Poly Hive]

I have some fields of it appearing locally and am wondering if anyone has experience of this? Am I likely to get anything off it (it is currently pouring here) and are there any issues with the honey?

PH

 

[Millet]

I have some fields of it appearing locally and am wondering if anyone has experience of this? Am I likely to get anything off it (it is currently pouring here) and are there any issues with the honey?

PH

Try it and see KISS lol,

 

[Anduril]

It has a strong flavour and is an acquired taste. https://www.natureword.com/properties-and-benefits-of-buckwheat-honey/ It is also a member of the rhubarb family, you may find you need to blend it with another honey.

 

[Finman]

.
I have heard about cow manure aroma, and it makes teller smile. Luckily bees are not earger to forage it if they have something else.

.

 

[Poly Hive]

Seems it may be radish not buckwheat. I will see if I can find the farmer and nail it.

PH

 

[MartinL]

. . . . is an acquired taste.

That usually means "tastes like 5H!TE"!

.you may find you need to blend it with another honey.

And taint everything else with the flavour?

Better to extract it separately then sell it as "Local-Rare Buckwheat"
Label it "Only available at this time of year - Save for Winter" annotated with all the antimicrobial bollocks & sell at £25 for 8oz.


The townies will be falling over themselves to buy it!

 

[Jambo]

Seems it may be radish not buckwheat. I will see if I can find the farmer and nail it.

PH

They shouldn't be hard to differentiate - one is a brassica and one isn't. If it's radish then it'll have all the issues of OSR honey, a PITA at this time of year I'd imagine!

 

[Poly Hive]

These might help.


PH

 

[MartinL]

On a more serious note, whatever it is, one thing is sure.

You're going to get a significant flow from that area.

I'd be marking the un-capped super frames that you have now right up until a week after the flowers have gone over. At least then you know where the produce of the unknown flowers has been put!

Then if it is dark & has "an acquired taste" . . . . .

 

[Anduril]

The leaf of the buckwheat looks more like an arrowhead.

 

[Anduril]

That usually means "tastes like 5H!TE"!

And taint everything else with the flavour?

Better to extract it separately then sell it as "Local-Rare Buckwheat"
Label it "Only available at this time of year - Save for Winter" annotated with all the antimicrobial bollocks & sell at £25 for 8oz.


The townies will be falling over themselves to buy it!

It is known better in Russia, turn antimicrobial to antioxidant and you're getting there. I enjoy making blinis from buckwheat flour, good as gluten free or add plain flour to it and the delicate taste buds of country folk should enjoy it

 

[Finman]

.
That is Brassica. Surely not buckwheat.

 

[Poly Hive]

I am thinking brassica too and ITLD suggested radish so a bit unsure TBH.

PH

 

[Plenty of honey]

Yes definitely not buckwheat, a type of brassica, probably a cover crop or fodder crop allowed to seed. which out for !! last thing you need if its mixing with your summer flow! Grrrr

 

[philipm]

From what I've seen growing in Ukraine has white flowers.I doubt very much that in this country it would be harvested for seed ,more than likely a fodder crop or will be ploughed in to feed the soil.

 

[foghornleghorn]

Definitely radish, the four petalled cross shaped flower is the giveaway.

 

[Poly Hive]

Well given the distance, at a good mile and the cool weather it is not an issue really for my hives. Spotted another field of it this afternoon so that is at least four in the area.

PH

 

[philipm]

Could be a variety of mustard,Looks a bit like garlic mustard.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

Radish is used to stop nutrients from being washed down into the soil. So you keep the nutrients and then plough it back in thus giving some plant matter to the soil too. Had some near me over last winter and bees liked it on a mild winters' day.

 

[Leigh]

As above, definitely not buckwheat. It isn't grown commercially in the UK as the Ukraine does it in spades and very cheaply. However, it is sometimes used as a cover crop for game birds. If enough quantity, produces lots of almost black (ruby if held up to light) honey. Smells of old socks/farmyard but tastes wonderful....undertones of plum. I had some last year and it was very popular with diehard foodies. Was hoping for some more this season, but it was drilled too early and didn't come in to flower.