No OSR here.

[Levitt53]

It's dawned on me this morning that I haven't seen any signs of OSR fields around my village this year. I'm a bit of a towny so maybe I'm too early and I haven't checked in all directions. But my question is if there is no OSR around does this mean that I don't have to worry about doing a spring extraction, or are there other things that make honey crystallise this time of the year and it's just OSR that hits the headlines? TIA.

 

[MartinL]

. . . . . . . . . . I'm a bit of a towny so maybe I'm too early and I haven't checked in all directions. But my question is if there is no OSR around does this mean that I don't have to worry about doing a spring extraction . . . . . . . . . .

Plenty of the early stuff around here, just starting to breakout.

I don't bother extracting the stuff, clear & tasteless!

Only plus is the pollen.

 

[Fatbee]

People love my creamed OSR - certainly not tasteless.

 

[Angularity]

No OSR round here, either. I think it has to do with the change in the sugar beet regime, at least in areas nearer to a factory.

 

[masterBK]

MartinL. As you probably know its an unfortunate effect of aging that the number of sensory cells which give you your sense of taste and smell diminish with time so that by 80 yrs you may have half as many of such cells as you did at 20. Maybe this is one of the reasons older people think their food is bland and doesn't taste as good as they remember (with rose coloured spectacles!) from their youth.

Oil seed rape honey doesn't stay clear for long so no good for selling it as runny honey but as Fatbee indicated it makes wonderful soft set honey if you know how to do it. I produce about 800 lbs per year and sell all of it without any problem to customers that appreciate the texture of the fine soft crystals and its mild but distinctive flavour.

 

[birdsandbees]

there seems to be a load of it near my Apiaries at the moment, some further on with a definite yellow top to it where as others are still green.
Bees seemed to be working it at the weekend as very busy and lots of yellow legs and heads coming in, I've added supers to stronger colonies just to be sure.

 

[Stiffy]

It's dawned on me this morning that I haven't seen any signs of OSR fields around my village this year. I'm a bit of a towny so maybe I'm too early and I haven't checked in all directions. But my question is if there is no OSR around does this mean that I don't have to worry about doing a spring extraction, or are there other things that make honey crystallise this time of the year and it's just OSR that hits the headlines? TIA.

The local farmers around you may not grow it.
I have a 50 mile round trip to one of my out apiaries to find a good source of OSR.
S

 

[Millet]

The local farmers around you may not grow it.
I have a 50 mile round trip to one of my out apiaries to find a good source of OSR.
S

A lot of farmers also rotate there crops, one year they may grow it then the next they will not, personally after last years palava i will avoid it like the plague even though i have several good spots with loads of the stuff.

 

[Fatbee]

Ah but Millet will your bees avoid it! Keeping them away from it is harder than you think

 

[Millet]

Ah but Millet will your bees avoid it! Keeping them away from it is harder than you think

There is none of the stuff as far as the eye can see around the apiary this year, which is what i want as the willow/sycamore/wild cherry/ thistle and so on are in abundance in this area, last year all the willow and other spring forage was ruined by rape, i saved it but what a mess, i would hate to do a skip full of the stuff, my second batch of autumn honey was much better although it still crystallized it still stayed runny with moderate heat.

 

[Levitt53]

But my question is if there is no OSR around does this mean that I don't have to worry about doing a spring extraction, or are there other things that make honey crystallise this time of the year and it's just OSR that hits the headlines? TIA.

Ok all very interesting. I understand about crop rotation and haven't actually tried to get any honey yet but this doesn't really answer my question.

 

[Millet]

Ok all very interesting. I understand about crop rotation and haven't actually tried to get any honey yet but this doesn't really answer my question.

Too early to get honey yet.. , Dandelion and Clover will also Crystallize apparently.

 

[Curley]

Hi Levitt53
Nearly all UK honey will crystallize after extraction, in time.
OSR in spring and Ivy in autumn, crystallize in the comb, while still in the hive. Ivy isn't seen as a valuable crop, and it is often left for the bees. Opinions vary with OSR but it must be extracted immediately on removal from the hive. Taking the harvest before fully capped is the usual advice.

If your bees don't have access to OSR then this tearing urgency doesn't apply and honey can be left on the hive.
Do be sure otherwise it is a royal pain in the behind.
You may get to take a spring harvest anyway(if it's there to take) as other sources of forage can yield well, dandelions, sycamore, chestnut etc., but you can and should leave this until fully capped.
If you leave it, you will be lifting it on and off the hive every inspection so your call. Hope this helps.

 

[MartinL]

MartinL. As you probably know its an unfortunate effect of aging that the number of sensory cells which give you your sense of taste and smell diminish with time so that by 80 yrs you may have half as many of such cells as you did at 20. Maybe this is one of the reasons older people think their food is bland and doesn't taste as good as they remember (with rose coloured spectacles!) from their youth.

I'm not that old yet but can't help thinking that OSR isn't worth raving over.

Yes it produces in quantity, I just find the quality lacking.
I don't sell my honey (unless you count the exchange deal I have with the local pub landlord) lol.

 

[Levitt53]

Hi Levitt53
Nearly all UK honey will crystallize after extraction, in time.
OSR in spring and Ivy in autumn, crystallize in the comb, while still in the hive. Ivy isn't seen as a valuable crop, and it is often left for the bees. Opinions vary with OSR but it must be extracted immediately on removal from the hive. Taking the harvest before fully capped is the usual advice.

If your bees don't have access to OSR then this tearing urgency doesn't apply and honey can be left on the hive.
Do be sure otherwise it is a royal pain in the behind.
You may get to take a spring harvest anyway(if it's there to take) as other sources of forage can yield well, dandelions, sycamore, chestnut etc., but you can and should leave this until fully capped.
If you leave it, you will be lifting it on and off the hive every inspection so your call. Hope this helps.

Thanks that's great. I'll make sure I take all routes out of the village to be sure. I saw some starting to flower out of reach of the bees though so I know I'll spot it if it's there. As it's my second year I'd rather take the honey extraction thing at at my own pace rather than in a rush to it suits me fine.

 

[Angularity]

Having spoken to some local growers, the reason they all gave for not bothering with OSR is... the neonic ban. Win some, lose some.

 

[wightbees]

There doesn't seem to be as much here this year but what there is is flowing and my bees are making the most of it: ) Hawthorn & Dandelion are out also.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I'm not that old yet but can't help thinking that OSR isn't worth raving over.

Yes it produces in quantity, I just find the quality lacking.
I don't sell my honey (unless you count the exchange deal I have with the local pub landlord) lol.

I tell my customers that set honey is much better for eating on bread or similar as it stays where you put it and doesn’t run off or sink through into your lap.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I tell my customers that set honey is much better for eating on bread or similar as it stays where you put it and doesn’t run off or sink through into your lap.

Exactly what I do.
No OSR here so I soft set some of my blossom honey. Lots of people prefer it

 

[Swarm]

There doesn't seem to be as much here this year but what there is is flowing and my bees are making the most of it: ) Hawthorn & Dandelion are out also.

That would be Blackthorn?