Oil Seed Rape

[Liam C Ryan]

How long will the bees work Oil Seed Rape or how long dose it stay in bloom?

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

Dependant on several factors, but I think you should get 3 weeks or so.

 

[The Riviera Kid]

It's barely started yet around here (East Midlands). This stop-go weather seems to be mucking things around a bit. Stuff on my allotment doesn't seem to know if it's spring or not...

 

[Teemore]

Liam,
I was driving through Louth, Meath, Kildare and Offally last week and I saw a lot of OSR that was already fully in flower and still more that was just starting to bloom. Given that you are 'a bit' further South it may well be the case that OSR in your locality is a week or two ahead.
I know a County Down farmer who grows a lot of OSR and whilst normally he would have four or five beekeepers bring bees to his OSR, none of them have been in contact with him so far this year: they (and others) have been caught out by how early OSR has come into bloom in many areas. The fields you plan to bring your bees to - how far out in bloom are they? Are we talking about 10% or 20% coverage of the field?

 

[Liam C Ryan]

Thanks Monsieur

 

[Liam C Ryan]

Bees are there now ,Im not to sure about % but plenty of flowers on plants at the moment. There won,t be to much foraging going on for the next week or so I was wondering whether it would be worth while taking out an other hive to the field.

 

[Arfermo]

No sign of any OSR round here. NOT ANY. Farmers must into something else p'raps? Bees busy enough anyway so not concerned.