Why is OSR so important?

[Zante]

Ok, maybe it's something really obvious, but please, be patient, I'm learning.

Why is there so much talk about OSR compared to any other flower?
What makes this particular crop so important that everyone talks about it?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It's an early and prolific crop - loads of nectar and pollen and the bees can go bonkers over it. Colonies build up very quickly on it and produce loads of honey.
Downsides:
Extremely rapid build up can catch the beekeeper unawares and trigger early swarming.
OSR honey crystalizes very quickly and goes very hard - if you don't keep on top of things you'll end up with frames of honey you can't extract and the bees don't seem to want.
A lot would say that 'mazola honey' is a pretty bland stuff but I can't comment as we have none around here but as rapeseed oil seems very trendy at the moment labelling honey 'rapeseed honey' seems to be having the same effect.

 

[bpmurray]

for the first time, there's a field just about to flower (I counted 3 in bloom) about 3km away, as the bee flies. Is there anything I can do to persuade them to visit? If I take a box of bees over there and let them loose, will they realise they're surrounded by paradise and let the rest of the folk back home know about it? Or is it too far?

 

[Fatbee]

Leave it to the bees to decide - if it makes sense in terms of energy returns they will find it. They've been making these decisions longer than us - leave them to it!

As for the OP in big arable areas there is vast quantities grown and it's a no brainer for the bees.

And personally I really like OSR honey if creamed properly - has a bit of bite.

 

[snelgrove]

A brilliant source of nectar and pollen which the bees seem to prefer to many other plants ect at the time of year. Some say the honey is bland but given good weather the bees can put it way at a tremendous rate. Like or love it but ignore it at your peril

 

[Robbo8916]

We don't have any OSR locally but beeks in this area show the same excitement over HB. It is abundant around both my apiary sites and when it blooms the bees go mental over it! Ghost bees are a common sight round these parts on a HB flow.

 

[bontbee]

Just for balance, you understand...IMHO, OSR honey just tastes sweet, has the texture of lard and, at least when it's freshly bottled, smells of cabbage! It does give a lovely texture to a soft set honey, though.

But I also know that if that's all my bees had access to, I'd be very grateful for it. Bees aren't my living, so I can afford to turn my nose up at it.

I have been reading lately that bees can get very grumpy on OSR, but that's only what I've read - so far, it's not something grown around here.

Meant to say that I do get excited when the ghosts are about - OSR and Himalayan balsam honey, chalk and cheese! For me, anyway.

 

[snelgrove]

I place about 10 stocks on the edge of Rape fields, temper is an issue.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

some of mine had a temper like a four year old full of blue smarties last year others were fine I just put it down to the Italian genetics.

 

[Fatbee]

I put temper down to being early season when working it and frustration caused by imperfect weather. You rarely get a 25+ degree day in May. Different beasts by the main flow in July if weather is fine and warm

 

[Poly Hive]

There is the mono theory which says in essence put bees on one crop and they get tinky. Mine were little sods on OSR and Heather but fine in between on mixed floral.

TBH OSR is not that important these days as it flowers so quickly. My reliable ton is now but a distant fond memory.

PH

 

[Zante]

Just for balance, you understand...IMHO, OSR honey just tastes sweet, has the texture of lard and, at least when it's freshly bottled, smells of cabbage! It does give a lovely texture to a soft set honey, though.

I wonder how it would turn out as a mead...
I'm curious to try. Around what time could start looking for OSR honey?

 

[Itchy]

My first year on farms with OSR, thankfully they're not growing it this year. I'm hoping to farm out the extraction to someone else when it is grown. They can keep it too if insecticides are used.

 

[YorkshireBees]

In my experience OSR can provide a boost to building colonies in Spring.
If the conditions are half decent I can get a good crop from OSR.
Personally I like softset honey produced from this crop but I personally believe that although the majority of the nectar is from OSR the bees are not as stupid as some humans and collect from other sources at the same time so every year the Spring crop can vary depending on what is in bloom and giving nectar at the time the OSR flowers.

The positives:-

• Early crop - source of both nectar / pollen help to build up colonies.
• Makes excellent softset with a creamy and almost velvet texture when made correctly.
• For some years when the conditions have not been best during the summer the Spring crop (OSR) has been my only decent crop!

The negatives:-

• Can help colonies build so fast, early swarming / management is required.
• Knowing when the crop is ready for extraction requires some management / experience otherwise it's quite easy to end up with a lot of granulated frames!

The above is my opinion and I would say everyone is different and having manned a tasting desk at a Honey show for several years I found that there seems to be an equal split between people who prefer runny honey and softset honey.

 

[Plenty of honey]

This year i have 1 huge field of 3 hectares, some 20 meters from my home apiary where i raise my queens so its a fantastic source of food. Another apiary the other side of the valley has 3 fields surrounding it, so i am just going to put my best hives in there and get as much of the stuff as i can.
With this stuff so prolific here, you have to be on top of your bees all the time, giving space as soon as you see the flow start and manage them carefully as otherwise that brood nest will soon be full and swarm preparations will start.

If you dont put supers on, you end up with swarms and weak colonies for the summer harvest in approx 10 weeks and whats better, honey in your supers or your bees hanging from the trees!!!
I can sell rape seed honey easier than i can sell chestnut, that seems bonkers to me, but horses for courses and all that.

It looks like being a difficult harvest this year. Bees still not up to strength really and coolish weather. we shall see.

 

[Fatbee]

In my experience OSR can provide a boost to building colonies in Spring.
If the conditions are half decent I can get a good crop from OSR.
Personally I like softset honey produced from this crop but I personally believe that although the majority of the nectar is from OSR the bees are not as stupid as some humans and collect from other sources at the same time so every year the Spring crop can vary depending on what is in bloom and giving nectar at the time the OSR flowers.

The positives:-

• Early crop - source of both nectar / pollen help to build up colonies.
• Makes excellent softset with a creamy and almost velvet texture when made correctly.
• For some years when the conditions have not been best during the summer the Spring crop (OSR) has been my only decent crop!

The negatives:-

• Can help colonies build so fast, early swarming / management is required.
• Knowing when the crop is ready for extraction requires some management / experience otherwise it's quite easy to end up with a lot of granulated frames!

The above is my opinion and I would say everyone is different and having manned a tasting desk at a Honey show for several years I found that there seems to be an equal split between people who prefer runny honey and softset honey.

Well said - totally agree with all of that. My OSR is about two weeks from flower and will yield for a month or so if weather is favourable.

 

[Fatbee]

This year i have 1 huge field of 3 hectares,

Shows the diffence in farming in Brittany - they're more like 30 hectares around here before huge gets mentioned!

Mine have over 100 hectares to go at in foraging range

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

I'm a big fan - gives me 60-70% of my crop, and tastes good as well

 

[peteinwilts]

it is too sweet for me, and a lot of people go out of the way to ask whether it is OSR honey, and will reject it.

Bees on OSR can collect a lot of honey with the bonuses and negatives mentioned already.

Bees not on OSR, if there is any in reach, it is a curse as it can taint much nicer honey. (In my opinion)

for me, another bonus is some farmers pay for hives being on OSR

however, just because bees are on OSR, does not mean you can expect a bumper crop. I have had bees on OSR and all that was collected was pollen.
Some of the OSR hybrids are not good honey producers

 

[drex]

Plenty of OSR round here is already in flower. Still too cold and too few bees, but in previous seasons have always had a good crop of honey from it. Sells well when creamed.