Honey Yield per acre of Buckwheat

[tshnc01]

About a month ago, I planted an acre of buckwheat and it is now blooming and being worked heavily every morning by my bees.  In searching the internet I found a lot of publications that roughly state that an acre of buckwheat can produce about 150 lbs of honey per year; however none of the publications list where the information came from.  Is this 150 lbs per acre based on a single crop of buckwheat or multiple crops through the growing season?  Any thoughts appreciated.

...Tim Huntley

[gardeningfireman]

Tim,
The info that I read on the web about buckwheat said pretty much the same thing; potentially 150lbs. of honey per hive, per season. No further detail. I planted a couple of patches totalling about 400 sf to help my smaller swarm hive build up for the winter. They are just starting to work it, though not as hard as they are hitting my liatris.
Alan

[danno]

I my part of the country a acre of buckwheat  will yield several hundred pounds of venison

[David Stokely]

Now that is pretty funny Danno. . .

:-D

[tshnc01]

Good point Danno....:)  Bow season for deer opens here on September 12th.

[riverrat]

Yield of honey will vary drastically from year to year on any nectar producing bloom. There is to many variables that have to be factored in. IE weather, hive strength, how you manage your bees, you can put 2 hives that appear to be equal in numbers and one will make 30lbs and the other may make 150lbs of honey. This is just a few of many variables that come into play.

[tshnc01]

Understood riverrat....I guess what I am trying to figure out is if a single planting of buckwheat on one acre of land (in close proximity to my hives - 6 total) will have much of a positive impact on my bees.  Or would I have to do multiple plantings in a year (every 50-60 days) to have the buckwheat provide a big impact.

...Tim

[danno]

Tim
A few years back a friend planted 15 acres for the his bee's.   It bloomed at the same time the thistle bloomed and most the bees flew right over it.  He ended up with very little dark honey

[Kathyp]

i planted buckwheat the last two years.  last year they really used it, but this year it bloomed just before the blackberries and then abandoned it for blackberries.  if you can control when it blooms, and make sure you get max bloom when your other primary sources are not tempting, it's worth it.

[Joelel]

i planted buckwheat the last two years.  last year they really used it, but this year it bloomed just before the blackberries and then abandoned it for blackberries.  if you can control when it blooms, and make sure you get max bloom when your other primary sources are not tempting, it's worth it.

I didn't see many honey bees in my garden and i think they were not mine.