bees and roses

johnnybigfish · January 28, 2010, 08:37:17 PM

does anybody know anything about bees and roses? I'm figurin' on planting roses this year instead of a garden.But, if bees dont like roses much I guess 'll have to come up with another plan :)

Your friend,
john

Two Bees · January 28, 2010, 08:41:20 PM

Based upon what I have read, bees don't like roses........................ or tomatoes!

Kathyp · January 28, 2010, 08:49:20 PM

nope. i have lots of roses and very rarely do i see a bee on them. go to your local nursery and ask them if they know what grows in your are and attracts honey bees.

cow pollinater · January 28, 2010, 09:02:16 PM

They will use roses for pollen when nothing else is blooming.

johnnybigfish · January 28, 2010, 09:46:28 PM

Hmmm...I might still grow roses....Mostly for me to look at I suppose then....And blackberries and moonflowers for the bees!
My tomatoes didnt do well last year but it seems cantalope did real good!And, it was the first time I ever did cantalope!.Youre right about the tomatoes tho, cuz I knew the bees dont care for them much.
\Thanks you guys!

your friend,
john

Two Bees · January 29, 2010, 05:23:16 PM

Last spring, I planted some blueberry bushes/plants in large pots and placed them on my deck. Since it was the first year, the blueberry's did not bloom. But I'm anticipating that the bees will be attracted to them this spring!

ONTARIO BEEKEEPER · January 29, 2010, 10:27:28 PM

I know that bees have a hard time seeing the colour red. Thats why red flowers are more rare. Red flowers are mostly pollinated by butterflies that can see red. Or so ABC & XYZ says.

Bee Happy · January 29, 2010, 11:23:18 PM

I never saw the bees in the roses, but this past summer is the first time I've seen the rose hips swell after the petals fell off; I'm guessing the rose hips had fertile seeds in them. Whether the bees had anything to do with it or if the rose plants had to mature enough I couldn't say.

USC Beeman in TN · January 30, 2010, 06:41:57 PM

Raspberries, blueberries, beebalm, hollies, crape myrtles, cockscomb, coneflower.

sarafina · February 01, 2010, 02:29:48 PM

My husband has a lot of roses and I rarely see any bees on them.

When I go shopping for "bee plants" I look for the ones at the nursery that have a lot of bees on them :-D

Finski · February 01, 2010, 04:19:39 PM

.
Bees and bumblebees visit much in Rosa rugosa to get pollen. We say it "Road rose". They are every where.

But not rose but plenty of pollen foragers invite Paeonia officinalis.
It blooms in early summer. It may have tens of flowers.

Tucker1 · February 01, 2010, 04:58:31 PM

After reading the comments, it seems that raspberries, blueberries and blackberries would work well on a small farm, along with most types of clover and buckwheat.

Regards,
Tucker

Two Bees · February 01, 2010, 05:15:51 PM

I'm not an expert but I understand that bees like flowers that have "centers" such as cone flowers, marigolds, clover, etc. where they can get to the nectar without having to have a long "mouth" to get to it. I understand that honeybees don't like honeysuckle because they can't get to the nectar. Just what I heard!

Kathyp · February 01, 2010, 05:41:01 PM

all great. i love the buckwheat. not all clovers. white is good and maybe a couple of others? i have some kinds they don't touch.

Finski · February 01, 2010, 09:53:04 PM

Quote from: Tucker1 on February 01, 2010, 04:58:31 PM
After reading the comments, it seems that raspberries, blueberries and blackberries would work

Blueberry needs very special soil comapered with those other berries.
Soil must be very acid, pH 4,5. It does not grow in same soil as rasberries and blackberries.

But raspberry is one of the best nectar producers. Continuous bearing Polka is a good plant .
Berry weight is 6 g.

Bee Happy · February 02, 2010, 01:42:27 AM

Quote from: Finski on February 01, 2010, 09:53:04 PM
Quote from: Tucker1 on February 01, 2010, 04:58:31 PM
After reading the comments, it seems that raspberries, blueberries and blackberries would work

Blueberry needs very special soil comapered with those other berries.
Soil must be very acid, pH 4,5. It does not grow in same soil as rasberries and blackberries.

I should get a pH test my blackberries and blueberries grow within feet of each other - the most prolific plant has blackberries right beside it. The one with the largest berries was choked out by blackberry. (Or I could search PH ranges and try to find a compromise zone to deduce what the soil pH will likely be.)

Tucker1 · February 02, 2010, 12:06:52 PM

Finski: Thanks for adding the photos to your postings. It makes me look forward to spring.

Regards,
Tucker1

Finski · February 02, 2010, 12:28:17 PM

Blackberries grow best when the soil pH is between 5.5 and 7
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/ec/ec1303/

Raspberries grow best at a soil pH of 5.5-6.5,. So, it is same as with blackberry.

Blueberry is totally differnet plant.
My 6 years experience is that it is not possible to grow without pH meter. Digital pH meter is about 100$.
But I love blueberries and I have about 13 different varietes. They grow fine when I have mixed silt and acid pH 4 spagnum peat. When some plants begun to die I byed pH meter, It revealed that pH was 6,5.

Bee Happy · February 02, 2010, 12:30:26 PM

I'll print your post and bring it out to my plants. Maybe they can run a pH test and decide fairly which group should die off.

EDIT: My mistake, I misread the "not possible" post. A pH tester would be a nice gadget to have.

Finski · February 02, 2010, 12:39:53 PM

.
I had an opportunity to get Texas Salvia microphylla to grow. It was really beautifull in a 60 litre container. It bloomed long, 3 months. It has much nectar but a long flower tube. Bees get the nectar when flower drops to the ground.

Now I should get new plants or seeds. It is strange that they are not sold in Europa. Difficult to get.
I like those nectar plants because they invite butterflyes to homeyeard.