Food plot for bees
#6277762
07/12/18 02:56 PM
07/12/18 02:56 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518 WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518
WI>>>MN >>>WI
|
I cut a few Acres of wild weeds that I'd like to replant with honey bees in mind. Is there anything better than clover? Maybe a wildflower mix. This is in Zone 4B
Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6277798
07/12/18 04:22 PM
07/12/18 04:22 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,163 Piney va. soon be 19
cotton
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,163
Piney va. soon be 19
|
prob too late now but buckwheat will really feed the bees
John 3/16
ifin your gonna be dumb ya gotta be tough VTA life member
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6277834
07/12/18 06:07 PM
07/12/18 06:07 PM
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,529 Missouri
Broomchaser
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,529
Missouri
|
Monarchs would have liked those milkweeds. Did they get to them first?
Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US.
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6277947
07/12/18 08:53 PM
07/12/18 08:53 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518 WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518
WI>>>MN >>>WI
|
The "pollinator Mix" suggestion sounded promising. While not from Pheasants Forever; I found one and checked the ingredients. A half dozen clover varieties! I guess I have a lot to learn. But, I probably have a year or two with the first clover planting.
Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6278195
07/13/18 07:32 AM
07/13/18 07:32 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 696 Central Mn
the wife
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 696
Central Mn
|
The DNR gives out dry root flowering shrubs to promote pollinators in the spring. Idk how you sign up but a coworker got on the list and shared this past spring. I got high bush cranberry, june berry and choke cherry. I'd also check with the U extension office to find out what grows best and/or what may be lacking in your area.
Throughout your entire life, you will never see the same sky twice.
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6278203
07/13/18 07:50 AM
07/13/18 07:50 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 340 Northern KY
huntcook
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 340
Northern KY
|
About 10 years ago I put out 40 acers of native grasses to help bring back quail and rabbit don't see much change. I got into bees keeping 4 years ago so now I putting some of the fields in yellow and white sweet clover. Here the yellow comes on in mid June when its gone the white is ready to bloom, it and white dutch clover seems to work good for the bees.
Government making sin legal does not make it right.
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6278284
07/13/18 09:43 AM
07/13/18 09:43 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672 Ohio
Willy Firewood
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
|
You may wish to plant some trees around the edges. Dwarf or semi-dwarf crabapple trees are excellent for bees and used to pollinate apple and pear varieties in orchards. They have golf ball size fruit that makes delicious jelly.
I planted 500 semi-dwarf Apple trees for our bees. We have 4 hives. We have wild blackberries all over. We also have many tulip poplar trees. The bees are happy.
FRAC LIVES MATTER
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6278297
07/13/18 10:02 AM
07/13/18 10:02 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518 WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518
WI>>>MN >>>WI
|
Thanks. Lots of good information.
I did a quick search, and found tons of information from the MN DNR. I haven't had the time to actually go through it, but will this weekend.
Trees are out of the question. I already have lots of them in another area. This area is along my ultra light runway so, needs to stay low.
I've come across a few commercially available pollinator mixes; but at over $1000/acre is not justifiable.
Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6278431
07/13/18 05:22 PM
07/13/18 05:22 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672 Ohio
Willy Firewood
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
|
Buckwheat is inexpensive to grow. It requires no spraying. Mine blossoms for a very long time. It is always covered in bees. I am going to plant a mix of clover for the bees.
Crown vetch and Perennial sweet pea do very well and bees love them. They both are perennials and spread very well.
FRAC LIVES MATTER
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6278873
07/14/18 12:11 PM
07/14/18 12:11 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518 WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518
WI>>>MN >>>WI
|
Thanks to the University of Minnesota, I think I've found a good direction to go. They have been experimenting with a "bee Lawn". It comprises several pounds of a fine fescue grass to a couple ounces each of a few native prairie flowers. It stands up to a lot of neglect, but can still be mowed and controlled. The exact components I'm still thinking about but most highly recommended are: - White clover (ok, not native)
- Creeping Thyme
- Lanceleaf Self-heal
- Ground plum
- Lanceleaf Tickweed
- Calico American Aster
Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: M.Magis]
#6278901
07/14/18 01:10 PM
07/14/18 01:10 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518 WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518
WI>>>MN >>>WI
|
Bee lawns produce more flowers than typical lawns, but FAR less that something like clover or buckwheat. I hear ya! From what I am reading the ratios are not rocket science. I can easily adjust the proportions and/or varieties. My objectives are: - Low maintenance. Meaning no watering or weeding and minimal mowing
- Provide an easy source of nectar and pollen for a dozen hives.
- Spruce up the danged place. I'm tired of looking at weeds
Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: cotton]
#6278967
07/14/18 03:14 PM
07/14/18 03:14 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 292 SE Iowa
seiowatrapper
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 292
SE Iowa
|
prob too late now but buckwheat will really feed the bees One of my neighbors is a beekeeper and as far as I know, pretty knowledgeable on the subject. He prefers buckwheat and yellow clover if planting a plot with bees in mind. I have seen zillions of "his" bees swarming on buckwheat that I have had on my place. It is quite the sight and nice to know that I am also helping his bees. Side benefit...quail love the yellow clover and all gamebirds like the buckwheat and it is a good soil builder too.
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6279454
07/15/18 10:31 AM
07/15/18 10:31 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518 WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518
WI>>>MN >>>WI
|
Man, this is getting tough. I feel like a kid in a candy store.
Since I've got a few acres to play with, I think I'll just start dumping seed. A little strip of this here and a little of that there.
Is there something I can plant right now and get flowers yet this year? As long as I'm experimenting, no need to wait for a fall planting.
Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6279469
07/15/18 11:10 AM
07/15/18 11:10 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 418 Iowa
ou812
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 418
Iowa
|
Man, this is getting tough. I feel like a kid in a candy store.
Since I've got a few acres to play with, I think I'll just start dumping seed. A little strip of this here and a little of that there.
Is there something I can plant right now and get flowers yet this year? As long as I'm experimenting, no need to wait for a fall planting. If your planting from seeds, if you do it properly, you won’t have any flowers for a couple years. Mow,mow and mow some more for the first year at 2 to 4 inchheight. 2nd year 4 to 6 inch height, 3rd year 6 to 12 inches. You want the root mass to develop to out compete the weeds.
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6279483
07/15/18 11:34 AM
07/15/18 11:34 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518 WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518
WI>>>MN >>>WI
|
Thanks. I'm headed to the buckwheat store.
Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6279521
07/15/18 12:32 PM
07/15/18 12:32 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518 WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518
WI>>>MN >>>WI
|
You are right about the flavor, and it has a distinctive dark color. No worries, though. It is an annual, and just something to control the weeds until my fall planting.
Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6279553
07/15/18 01:33 PM
07/15/18 01:33 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518 WI>>>MN >>>WI
T-Rex
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,518
WI>>>MN >>>WI
|
Good point WHSKR. The Buckwheat honey will most likely feed the bees overwinter, not part of the harvest.
Man who mistake shillelagh for fairy wand; see pixie dust, also.
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6280173
07/16/18 01:16 PM
07/16/18 01:16 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,036 New York
Fire Fly Guy
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,036
New York
|
You can plant what you want, but if they find something they like better miles away, that's were they will be.
.
|
|
|
Re: Food plot for bees
[Re: T-Rex]
#6280287
07/16/18 04:29 PM
07/16/18 04:29 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,593 Georgia
warrior
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,593
Georgia
|
BTW, the three types of tupelo
Black/Upland/Black Gum/Pepperidge produces a darker but still good honey. Rarely found in pure stands or in numbers enough to produce a pure varietal honey. Honey considered "baker" grade. Found on upland sites in mixed hardwoods.
Swamp/Water/Bear actually two possibly three species but treated the same for nectar. This is the tupelo of southern swamps found growing in or adjacent to water from the fall line south. Often found in large pure stands or with bald/pond cypress. Produces a light mild flavored but unremarkable honey.
Ogeechee/White see above. Found in very specific stream bank sites. Can only grow under very specific water flow/flood regimens.
Last edited by warrior; 07/16/18 04:30 PM.
|
|
|
|
|