Planting around the apiary

Latest Articles

Planting around the apiary
Page 1, 2 Next

Downsizer Forum Index -> The Apiary

Author

Message

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 15 5:53 pm Post subject: Planting around the apiary
Just got to put apiary again! I love saying that, apiary, especially as it had a proper fence and gate on it. Anyway, I want to plant some nice nectar and pollen rich plants around it, particulalry things which will be in flower early and late in the season. I'm not planning to do this but just how many snowdrops, mahonia's, aconites, willows would an average bee colony need to sustain it?

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 15 6:01 pm Post subject:
Things like protection from strong winds & having a nearby water source will do more good than planting. If there's one plant that IMHO is a life saver for bees as well as a lot of other wildlife it's ivy.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 15 6:17 pm Post subject:
It ticks all those boxes (and the protection from badgers box) but I was curious about the other quantities. Isn't there something about ivy crystallising and becoming difficult for the bees to use it? Ready access to water rings a bell.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 15 8:23 pm Post subject:
The bees love comfrey here. I cut it less than I ought to to let it flower and keep them happy. I can dig you some up and send it if you like?

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 15 9:05 pm Post subject:

Cathryn wrote:

It ticks all those boxes (and the protection from badgers box) but I was curious about the other quantities.

Isn't there something about ivy crystallising and becoming difficult for the bees to use it? Ready access to water rings a bell.

Rape does that. Never heard of ivy doing it.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 15 9:20 pm Post subject:

wellington womble wrote:

The bees love comfrey here. I cut it less than I ought to to let it flower and keep them happy. I can dig you some up and send it if you like?

That would be great.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 15 9:54 pm Post subject:
Flowering currants.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Sat Apr 04, 15 5:54 am Post subject:

Jamanda wrote:

Cathryn wrote:

Rape does that. Never heard of ivy doing it.

Yes Ivy does crystallise in the comb, but then so do most honey come winter.
& yes ready access to water is important, as I said above.
On the more sunny winter days a close source of water will save a lot of energy & bee lives.

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Sat Apr 04, 15 7:05 am Post subject:
Borage is a bee favourite too. Although an annual it seeds itself readily. You get the bonus of pretty blue flowers to add to your salads.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Sat Apr 04, 15 8:11 am Post subject:
How about Hellebores for early? Not sure how bees do on them but they have polle. And Sedums for late: I often see ours coverd in bees in September. And then the single Michaelmas daisies... I'll have a think for some more.

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Sat Apr 04, 15 8:12 am Post subject:
Rosemary - flowers all year here, evergreen, tough as old boots and rabbit proof.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Sat Apr 04, 15 9:02 am Post subject:
Good ideas! The plants will need to be tough as the ground is full of old bricks. I have the BBKA list as well. No ones been able to answer the question about quantities. I suppose it is a bit of how long is a piece of string question. I can't garden this year but I will enjoy planting this area up.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Apr 04, 15 9:07 am Post subject:
Gorse is meant to be good for bees, although worth checking. It does flower very early, by March its in full flower round here.

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Sat Apr 04, 15 9:29 am Post subject:

individual things like snowdrops are a waste of time, I think. Think height too - willows will feed a lot of bees as will Rosemary, heathers & plants with loads of flowers. Im planting loads of rosemary this year with heather underneath, and Im leaving some of the goat willow around. We have loads of ivy here.
I think if you aim for long season, but with some variety you will do well to hedge your bets with something in flower.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Sat Apr 04, 15 4:40 pm Post subject:

Cathryn wrote:

Good ideas! The plants will need to be tough as the ground is full of old bricks. I have the BBKA list as well.

No ones been able to answer the question about quantities. I suppose it is a bit of how long is a piece of string question. I can't garden this year but I will enjoy planting this area up.

They will get most of their provisions from the fields & hedgerows in the neighbourhood.
What you provide will be just a bonus.
Providing plants that flower out of season (early & late) like ivy (which is also incredibly reliable & prolific), crocus, hellebores are probably better than main season plants when there is plenty in the wild anyway.
Don't forget pollen bearers as well.
Early pollen is more important than nectar.
The bees will hopefully have enough honey but pollen doesn't keep as well & they can't raise new bees without it.
Plants like willows & hazel provide abundant amounts but negligible amounts of nectar.

	Downsizer Forum Index -> The Apiary	All times are GMT Page 1, 2 Next
Page 1 of 2

View Latest Posts