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Planting around the apiary
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Cathryn



Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion
PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 15 5:53 pm    Post subject: Planting around the apiary Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 15 6:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 15 6:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 15 8:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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: 35056
Location: Devon
PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 15 9:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 15 9:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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: 35056
Location: Devon
PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 15 9:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Flowering currants.

Tavascarow



Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall
PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 15 5:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Jamanda wrote:
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.

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
PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 15 7:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 15 8:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 15 8:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Rosemary - flowers all year here, evergreen, tough as old boots and rabbit proof.

Cathryn



Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion
PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 15 9:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 15 9:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 15 9:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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
PostPosted: Sat Apr 04, 15 4:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

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.

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