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BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: mat299 on September 03, 2012, 09:27:03 AM

Title: Goldenrod
Post by: mat299 on September 03, 2012, 09:27:03 AM
Hello.  New beek here in Georgia.  I was wondering if anybody could tell me when the goldenrod blooms.  Do we usually have any here and what d can I expect as far as honey production goes.
Title: Re: Goldenrod
Post by: hardwood on September 03, 2012, 09:59:12 AM
It's already blooming here in FL so I'd think yours is too. As far as production, too many variables to say.

Scott
Title: Re: Goldenrod
Post by: asprince on September 03, 2012, 10:16:36 AM
Here in Central GA. it has not started yet but it wont be long. As for NW GA it will probably be a couple of weeks later. If you get rain, have strong hives and locate them where there is a good crop of goldenrod, you may make some honey that will amount to something.


Good Luck,

Steve
Title: Re: Goldenrod
Post by: David McLeod on September 03, 2012, 12:05:19 PM
Goldenrod is variable with dozens of species across the country. Some produce abundant nectar and some none with most somewhere in between and as always weather can play a huge role. Here in my area goldenrod is not a huge producer but then again I have not sited my hives to specifically target goldenrod. I do get a flow but usually just enough to top off a super for winter.
BTW some of it is just starting to show here.
Title: Re: Goldenrod
Post by: AllenF on September 03, 2012, 10:02:22 PM
As of Saturday, it was not blooming yet.   I was in the woods south of Cave Springs and the goldenrod was starting to turn on top a little yellow, but still a ways off from blooming. 
Title: Re: Goldenrod
Post by: Intheswamp on September 04, 2012, 01:05:43 AM
We're getting very spotty bloom over here in Alabama about 50 miles south of Montgomery.  It seems to be in the creek/river bottoms mostly....haven't seen any on high ground, yet.

Ed
Title: Re: Goldenrod
Post by: Joe D on September 04, 2012, 01:28:38 AM
Very little here yet to.  Last year before I got my bees, on the road to the south of me there was 2 fields, together probably 60 acres or more, so far haven't seen any there.



Joe
Title: Re: Goldenrod
Post by: VolunteerK9 on September 04, 2012, 03:33:36 PM
It has been blooming here for a week or so. With the rains we've been having it should do pretty good.....bring on the smelly sock smell!
Title: Re: Goldenrod
Post by: T Beek on September 04, 2012, 06:18:18 PM
Goldenrod and asters are both peaking in N/W Wisconsin, but as said there are several species scattered around the Country.  In our region it 'usually' puts out flowers for as long as 3 months and is the last flow (last chance) before winter.  In past years my bees ignored goldenrod for the first few weeks, likely due to other avilabile forage, but not this year.  They began hitting it as soon as it began flowering.  This year has been exceptional. 

As I understand it "Not all Goldenrod species result in stinky honey." 

All of my hive entrances are currently tinted yellow  8-)

t
Title: Re: Goldenrod
Post by: oblib on September 04, 2012, 06:43:30 PM
No wet socks here yet. I go out everyday hoping to smell some :roll:
Title: Re: Goldenrod
Post by: BabcockFarms on September 04, 2012, 08:16:16 PM
Here in Nebraska we have had Goldenrod blooming for about a week and a half. However I haven't seem any bees working them.
Title: Re: Goldenrod
Post by: David McLeod on September 06, 2012, 02:45:28 PM
I was in Rabun county yesterday and it was just into full bloom.
Title: Re: Goldenrod
Post by: Dr. B in Wisconsin on September 06, 2012, 08:45:36 PM
Here in Wisconsin Goldenrod is out everywhere. I can smell it by the hive and I just placed 2 empty supers on after pulling some honey, I will check this weekend to see if they are refilled. There is quite abit of activity right now. Not much else is out at this point.
Title: Re: Goldenrod
Post by: mat299 on September 08, 2012, 12:17:48 PM
Checked my hives this morning and the bees are definitely bringing in something.  They are loaded with something yellow as the foragers come in.  I had left one empty honey super on each hive after I extracted in July and they are now filling up with nectar again.  One super was nearly full so I added another one.
Title: Re: Goldenrod
Post by: oblib on September 08, 2012, 06:40:03 PM
It finally started here  :-D