Anyone run bees on citrus?

[bernsad]

There is a small grove, perhaps 100 trees, near me and I'm thinking about approaching the owner to let me put some hives in the orchard. These are lemon and lime trees, does anyone know if they produce a similar honey to orange blossom? I wouldn't have thought it would be much different. I'm just out of Melbourne and I'm wondering what time of year it should flower, how long the season should last and how many (I have 5) hives I could/should put in there. I would like to harvest some straight honey, when I put some hives in there, do I remove all the other honey from the hive so it doesn't mix with the variety I want?

[Jim134]

IMHO to small to get straight honey A bee hive will cover about 8000 Acre
(3250 Hectare)
And you only got a 100 trees.



    BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

[bernsad]

Interesting point, Jim. So you think that is too small to keep them occupied, even if it is right on their doorstep and the best source around at that time, they will still go looking elsewhere?

[bernsad]

I suppose the next question I should have asked is, how big a field or source of one type do you need to make a monofloral honey?

[Jim134]

nectar sources of your region may by in hear.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monofloral_honey



    BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)