Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: barry42001 on March 18, 2014, 06:57:48 pm

Title: Tangelo tree, meyer lemon tress almost in bloom
Post by: barry42001 on March 18, 2014, 06:57:48 pm
I was just looking over my trees, I have a tangelo tree, Meyers lemon tree both of which have buds that are about to blossom, lime tree no showing nothing. the trees are about 30 yards away from my hives. wonder if they're too close or if the bees will find them? everything I've read and seen indicates that the bees have no way to let the colony members know when something is too close to the hive how to get there. if there's enough blossoms citrus has a tremendous aroma about it maybe they will follow their nose lol.
Title: Re: Tangelo tree, meyer lemon tress almost in bloom
Post by: riverbee on March 18, 2014, 09:13:28 pm
barry, i am unsure of tangelo, lemon or lime trees, i wouldn't consider the distance, but would consider how attractive the nectar content is to them over a richer (sweeter) more attractive nectar source is.  for example, apple trees, the bees tend to work a richer nectar source before they will work my apple trees, ie the dandelions under it, or another bloom..... same with pear trees.
Title: Re: Tangelo tree, meyer lemon tress almost in bloom
Post by: rodmaker on March 18, 2014, 09:17:07 pm
 My bees are on the edge of my fruit trees and they find all trees okay from apple to citrus there are no problems other than having to thin the fruit due to high fruit set from the bees
Title: Re: Tangelo tree, meyer lemon tress almost in bloom
Post by: Bakersdozen on March 18, 2014, 09:23:04 pm
My bees are on the edge of my fruit trees and they find all trees okay from apple to citrus there are no problems other than having to thin the fruit due to high fruit set from the bees

What a great problem.
Title: Re: Tangelo tree, meyer lemon tress almost in bloom
Post by: apisbees on March 19, 2014, 04:52:44 pm
It is a real problem, when an orchard has acres of trees that will not produce marketable fruit because there is too much fruit on the trees. Thinning is needed and chemicals are used to burn the remaining pollinated buds off before they become pollinated. Bees are moved in for only a few days, if even that long. Some as little as a single day before having to move them back out. Crops like cherries and nuts are better because you want every blossom pollinated and the thinning is achieved by pruning back the last years growth so the tree puts its growing energy into producing bigger fruit.