What crops attract honey bees

[deemann1]

What crops out there do farmers grow in abundance that are useful for the bee keeper and bees ,I know some people move hives to fields of osr and beans is there anything else?

 

[Millet]

The list could be endless ..

 

[Julie in Ash]

According to Ted Hooper they love Kale, which I never realised until recently. My way we have fairly big Lavender fields in some areas. But as Millet says, the list can go on and on.

 

[Popparand]

Osr

Farmers are now moving towards hybridised osr seed to defend against parasites. Hybrid varieties have little or no nectar.

 

[enrico]

The most important crop to a bee is a tree. Thousands of nectar bearing flowers in a relatively small area. Two trees are better than one and a field of them is perfect (woodland!)
So.......more trees that bees can use for me please.
E

 

[Angry_Mob]

Borage is good.

 

[bontbee]

….If you like honey with such a delicate flavour it could be described as....bland!

 

[Beefriendly]

Well it will be commanding a very premium price this year....our field has basically wilted in the drought...where we expect about 70lb of borage honey per hive we will be lucky to get 3/4 of a super. The rain was too late to save it...

 

[Swarm]

The most important crop to a bee is a tree. Thousands of nectar bearing flowers in a relatively small area. Two trees are better than one and a field of them is perfect (woodland!)
So.......more trees that bees can use for me please.
E

Acres in the sky.

 

[Zante]

The most important crop to a bee is a tree. Thousands of nectar bearing flowers in a relatively small area. Two trees are better than one and a field of them is perfect (woodland!)
So.......more trees that bees can use for me please.
E

Hmm... I have plenty of woodland within range of my bees. What trees would they be foraging from though?
Around here it's mainly oak, followed by chestnut (which I know is foraged), beech, hornbeam, poplar and a variety of conifers.

There is also plenty of black locust, and quite a few limes (which again I know are foraged) but I've been unable to get anything from them so far.
There is also some catalpa which has been planted ornamentally, so I don't know how relevant it may be. Possibly five or six trees overall within range.

 

[Beefriendly]

According to Ted Hooper they love Kale, which I never realised until recently. My way we have fairly big Lavender fields in some areas. But as Millet says, the list can go on and on.

Yes but in fields it rarely does as it is harvested for leaves. It's a biennial so only flowers in in it's second year...
Mustard is good if you have any near you and Flax (although not considered a big bee crop).

 

[TooBee...]

The most important crop to a bee is a tree. Thousands of nectar bearing flowers in a relatively small area. Two trees are better than one and a field of them is perfect (woodland!)
So.......more trees that bees can use for me please.
E

I remember reading somewhere recently that Oak tree nectar is poisonous to the larvae of bees, but Ok for overwintering and for us to eat honey from it....? But then again I did read it on the internet...

 

[TooBee...]

What crops out there do farmers grow in abundance that are useful for the bee keeper and bees ,I know some people move hives to fields of osr and beans is there anything else?

We all know of Oil Seed Rape (OSR) / Canola, but I too have heard that the more modern strains have less nectar, Finman often refers to this type of crop.

Then there is Clover, usually planted as a seed mix with grass, as it aids the grass to grow, unfortunately it can be cut early so not left to flower properly.

After that the only other mainstream crops with flowers that may have nectar, that I am aware of are peas and potatoes, I've heard that peas do give some nectar, I know nothing about potatoes, except they have pretty purple flowers.

As has been mentioned, there are some niche crops such as Borage or Lavender, but in this country (Britain & Ireland) I know of no other crops of worth that farmers plant.

On the continent you have a greater range, such as sunflowers, and so on.

In case your wondering my understanding is that Maize produces no nectar but large amounts of pollen, unfortunately the bees do not like it.

As for trees I've read that Black Locust produce the most nectar, but they can take several years to get up to full size to get the figures quoted and it only really flowers for up to 10 days, which is ok if it's just a few trees and a strong hive.

 

[Beefriendly]

I know nothing about potatoes, except they have pretty purple flowers.

And no use to bees...a few specialist bumble bees visit.
Field beans need adding to your list.
New varieties of rape seem to give copious amounts of nectar. Either that or my bees are seriously under-performing...

 

[Wingy]

Not a planted crop but every spring the field in front of our house is a lovely golden colour with dandelion, now got a garden hive so next spring should be good.

 

[Murox]

The most important crop to a bee is a tree. Thousands of nectar bearing flowers in a relatively small area. Two trees are better than one and a field of them is perfect (woodland!)
So.......more trees that bees can use for me please.
E

Obviously some are more important to bees than others and they each have their own flowering and pollen times., so i guess diversity would be good.
I remember reading that one good tree is worth an acre of other flora. I suppose a mixed landscape would be ideal, but then they were originally woodland edge dwellers weren't they?

 

[masterBK]

Oak tree nectar ? Surely joking as Oaks are wind pollinated and don't produce nectar. Presumably talking about honeydew from aphids or scale insects