Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: SDB]
#6465775
02/18/19 07:36 PM
02/18/19 07:36 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,513 Kanabec Cty, MN
Drakej
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Posts: 1,513
Kanabec Cty, MN
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The best recommendation will very much depend on the area and size you are planning to plant. Is it Ag land and do you have tilling equipment or is it area you will let go "wild" with pollinator plants? There are several good "crop" choices but they for the most part are only blooming a portion of the bee season. But "natural" planting can be planted with a wide variety good bee plants that will feed them all season. Need to to know more of your situation to be very helpful.
I've learned enough thru the years to now know that I don't know enough. KNOWLEDGE IS FREEDOM.
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: Furfool12]
#6465883
02/18/19 09:05 PM
02/18/19 09:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,932 NY
Rat_Pack
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trapper
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NY
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Golden rod is great for bees. Conifer trees are also a great addition. Sunflowers This
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: SDB]
#6465893
02/18/19 09:14 PM
02/18/19 09:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 17,740 Central Oregon
AntiGov
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Central Oregon
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Im no bee expert , but russian sage is hardy and blooms into late fall. Alot of bees on it ive noticed in sept oct
Report a post club - Non member
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: SDB]
#6465897
02/18/19 09:15 PM
02/18/19 09:15 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 14,867 Greene County,Virginia
run
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trapper
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Greene County,Virginia
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Thistles make awesome honey. I know crop farmers are going to hate me. But I have bought thistle honey. Thistles also attract little yellow birds. Sorry I can't keep track of wild birds. We mow our thistles right before they go to seed.
Last edited by run; 02/18/19 09:21 PM.
wanna be goat farmer.
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: run]
#6465954
02/18/19 10:15 PM
02/18/19 10:15 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,359 East-Central Wisconsin
bblwi
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East-Central Wisconsin
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You looking for annuals or perennials? What do you mean by late summer. To me late summer would be mid August on to frost What would or do you have for spring and or early summer Do you want to cut the crop whatever it is to have more flowering seasons or days? Alfalfa flowers in early June around here and will be brown by the 4th of July. I agree talk with some experienced bee keepers. Below is a link that offers ideas for full season options for bees http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/honey-plants.html#.XGtnCehKiM8Bryce
Last edited by bblwi; 02/18/19 10:20 PM.
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: SDB]
#6465985
02/18/19 10:30 PM
02/18/19 10:30 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,192 Goldsboro, NC
John C
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Goldsboro, NC
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Plant you some buckwheat. We can get three blooms here.
More Cowbell
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: SDB]
#6466053
02/18/19 11:09 PM
02/18/19 11:09 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,397 MT
snowy
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I see bee boxes on the prairie but always near a creek or river area. Thinking about what kind of crop would be close there isn't any. Grass and cedar trees and what ever wild flowering plants would be it. So what would they live on in this kind of country?
Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: SDB]
#6466099
02/18/19 11:28 PM
02/18/19 11:28 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 7,084 MO
cfowler
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I just planted some Indian Blanket for a bee-keeper. It blooms until frost, and is a native prairie species. Also planted a lot of different Asters, very hardy, but bloom late in the year generally. Both good for bees is what I was told.
I trap for fun. I skin 'em for the money! Grinners For Life-Lifetime Member, MO Chapter, Den #1 ~You Grin, You're In~
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: SDB]
#6466158
02/18/19 11:52 PM
02/18/19 11:52 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,513 Kanabec Cty, MN
Drakej
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Any of the many Sedums are also late bloomers, low maintenance and very bee attractive.
I've learned enough thru the years to now know that I don't know enough. KNOWLEDGE IS FREEDOM.
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: Bigbrownie]
#6466159
02/18/19 11:52 PM
02/18/19 11:52 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 7,084 MO
cfowler
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Aster is about the last thing that bees work here in Pa. I always take my honey off before it emerges, as aster based honey will crystallize quickly in a cell....sugared up honey in supers is a bummer. I let the bees gather it and store it in the bottom hive bodies. I know NOTHING about bees except they make honey. This guy has about 60 acres of flowers and an orchard, with his hives in the middle. Had me plant the species I mentioned close to the hives. Said that his bees needed more late blooming flowers. That's all I know. I will say he only had me plant 1/2 acre with the Indian Blanket and Asters.
Last edited by cfowler; 02/18/19 11:53 PM.
I trap for fun. I skin 'em for the money! Grinners For Life-Lifetime Member, MO Chapter, Den #1 ~You Grin, You're In~
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: SDB]
#6466244
02/19/19 04:43 AM
02/19/19 04:43 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,963 South metro, MN
Calvin
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South metro, MN
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As Warrior states, certain trees (always overlooked) feed bees far more than most flowering crops. Search "Mike connor bees and trees" on youtube if interested.
As far as plants, the Goldenrod is the last blooming (easy to seed) plant we have up here in the north that produces a honey flow.
BUT, if you just want to feed some local bees, I'd suggest just putting out a sugar water feeder or two in the fall. Kind of like a bird feeder but you might be surprised at the amount of bees that will come to just some sugar water. And it's a lot more bang for the buck in the bee world. It's what most of us bee keepers feed our bees come fall....especially up here in the north.
Last edited by Calvin; 02/19/19 04:49 AM.
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: warrior]
#6466286
02/19/19 07:11 AM
02/19/19 07:11 AM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 14,867 Greene County,Virginia
run
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Trees. A single large mature blooming tree (tulip poplar, red maple, black locust, sourwood, basswood) if laid out flat covers a half acre or more and you can fit several dozen trees per acre. Plus they'll feed bees for the better part of a century without the need to replant.
Truth is there is no way to plants forbs in large enough quantity to matter to bees unless you're talking acres. X2 on the trees.
wanna be goat farmer.
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: warrior]
#6466445
02/19/19 10:40 AM
02/19/19 10:40 AM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 7,084 MO
cfowler
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MO
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Trees. A single large mature blooming tree (tulip poplar, red maple, black locust, sourwood, basswood) if laid out flat covers a half acre or more and you can fit several dozen trees per acre. Plus they'll feed bees for the better part of a century without the need to replant.
Truth is there is no way to plants forbs in large enough quantity to matter to bees unless you're talking acres. Interesting and informative. Thanks Warrior. My wife and I planted a tulip poplar and a small patch of native wild flowers in our yard. Mostly my wife likes the hummingbirds and butterflies of course, but I noticed a lot of bees started visiting our yard after we had our patch up and blooming. In fact, we've had swarms twice since we started including this in our landscaping. Not sure if the swarms were related, but I found it interesting to see such masses of bees. Lot of bee-keepers in my area have their bee boxes located in locust groves. They also set out tubs of sugar water in the late fall near the bees, and the bees very actively use them. Getting a little clearer picture now of the what and why's. Cool stuff.
I trap for fun. I skin 'em for the money! Grinners For Life-Lifetime Member, MO Chapter, Den #1 ~You Grin, You're In~
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: SDB]
#6466466
02/19/19 10:52 AM
02/19/19 10:52 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,513 Kanabec Cty, MN
Drakej
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,513
Kanabec Cty, MN
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Trees are definitely major bee feeders but they take serious time to mature to flowering age sadly. The poster has yet to add more details on his situation.
I've learned enough thru the years to now know that I don't know enough. KNOWLEDGE IS FREEDOM.
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: trapNH]
#6466579
02/19/19 12:42 PM
02/19/19 12:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,634 Georgia
warrior
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trapper
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Posts: 25,634
Georgia
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Some of the things that bees like will make very dark honey, and will change the taste of it also. Some of the plants can be very invasive too. Shhhh! Don't give away our secret. privet, sweet clover, tallow, brazilian pepper, knotweed, star thistle All major honey producers and all non native invasives As are honey bees
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: SDB]
#6466601
02/19/19 01:17 PM
02/19/19 01:17 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,718 MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
Trapper7
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When I raised bees my favorite honey came from alfalfa from local farmers. IMO, clover or alfalfa are great bee crops and they're perennials.
The difference between animals and humans is that animals would never let the dumbest ones lead the pack.
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: Trapper7]
#6466625
02/19/19 01:44 PM
02/19/19 01:44 PM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 715 Michigan
BigBlackBirds
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Michigan
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When I raised bees my favorite honey came from alfalfa from local farmers. IMO, clover or alfalfa are great bee crops and they're perennials. Alfalfa use to be huge producer in the lower part of this state and I enjoy the flavor. Unfortunately its really hit and miss production wise anymore. Milk production happens on a huge scale here now as is the case in many states and that impacts how alfalfa is farmed. Modern practices means the alfalfa never gets even close to flowering before its cut. Even as recently as 15 years ago, it was common to have small alfalfa fields scattered around and sometimes those would flower before they were cut especially if the weather wasnt good and any baling was involved. But now alfalfa is cut as soon as it gets a foot tall or so and its a non stop thing; they can chop entire sections straight into silage trailers in a day when same amount of ground would have taken them a week in years past. The days of 3 cuttings a year are long over. About the only time we hit alfalfa crop is on the fields that have been played out come fall but they haven't been hit with herbicide and replanted just yet. In those cases, its common for good parts of an entire section to all bloom at once. If you are there then things can be great.
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Re: What to plant for bees
[Re: SDB]
#6467110
02/19/19 09:52 PM
02/19/19 09:52 PM
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 3,178 Pa.
Bigbrownie
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I am looking for something that provides a late summer bloom for the bees. Or anything they love. What to plant? If one is looking for late summer blooms, I don’t think there are any late summer nectar or pollen producing trees here in my area. Willow, aspen, maple, basswood, locust, catalpa and tulip poplar ( good bee trees in Pa ) are wrapped up by early summer.
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