Happy New Year to everyone! 2015 is going to be a great year!
I would love hear some wisdom and receive some advice.
We have 10-15 acres that can bee used for crop planting around our bee yard.
What would you recommend planting to help either provide a nectar source or supplement during Summer dearth.
I have been told that Buckwheat is a good crop to plant and that Cow Peas are good. I am going to be planting over a large area.
Any ideas?
i plant buckwheat and disc it under after it goes to seed until the first frost. i get 3 blooms from one planting.
next winter i'm going to be planting canola.
Does the buckwheat come back, or do you have to plant each year?
That is a great question Dallasbeek.
Also 10framer, is there some other crop you would recommend to plant along with the Buckwheat?
does it have to be one crop
down here there is a tree or bush with a flower looks like a starburst or a fire cracker going off it is red. I don't know the name, the bees were all over it last week.
I would find stuff that fruits, nuts, or veges
then find when it flowers in your area. spread the flower times out evenly
what you plant in kentucky may not be the same as I would here in Iowa..
Sainfoin, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Crimson and sweet clover, with JUST a smattering of buckwheat thrown in.. In the fall i will mow and bale it for the cows and horses. yes buckwheat will cause sun problems, thats why I am not adding much of it.. I will have to replant about every 5 years..
Hey there OldMech, I just talked to a few bee keepers here in Kentucky and they recommended the buckwheat and clover. Also Sunflower and Mustard.
What do you mean by sun problems? Does a lot of buckwheat cause issues to a field?
No, with the animals that eat it. Primarily horses. Photosensitization (ulcerative and exudative dermatitis). A little is OK but too much will start to cause problems. It wont hurt your field at all. Make sure if you plant a lot of it that you like the licorice flavor it gives the honey. Some folks love it, some hate it.
To me, it tastes a little like molasses. I like it.
buckwheat is supposed to come back but i've always plowed it under and planted deer fields in those spots in the fall.