Author Topic: Bees on Buckwheat 2014 (Read 8241 times)

Bamabww · « **on:** August 08, 2014, 05:41:37 pm »

I was able to get these shots of the bees enjoying the buckwheat I planted for them. Their leg "pouches" look like they may burst on some of them.

Jen · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2014, 05:56:13 pm »

Nice! I would love to have a buckwheat field close by

riverbee · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2014, 06:13:00 pm »

AWESOME photos bama! thank you!!!

yep, i sure enjoyed watching my bees on the buckwheat this year, i marked frames to extract the honey separately as they were bringing it in!

lazy shooter · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2014, 07:06:32 pm »

Does buckwheat leave a seed that is good forage for birds. I am especially interested in game birds like dove, quail and turkey.

We have an abundance of turkey and they forage on green oats and wheat in the winter and sunflower seeds in the mid to late summer.

Everyone seems to think bees do well on buckwheat, but the honey is not favored by some beekeepers and their customers.

DonMcJr · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2014, 08:19:51 pm »

Man Bees ALL over that Buckwheat eh???!!!

Yes Buckwheat leaves seeds... infact if you disc it after done flowing it comes back up!

I have 2 about an acre planted and blooming right now and do it every year!

riverbee · « **Reply #5 on:** August 08, 2014, 08:36:30 pm »

"Does buckwheat leave a seed that is good forage for birds. I am especially interested in game birds like dove, quail and turkey."

yes it does lazyshooter. even if you don't disc, it reseed's itself for the next season, disking the same season will get you, in my region 2 blooms!

the bees do very well on buckwheat. buckwheat honey? i like buckwheat honey and have a number of customers ask for it!

rcannon · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2014, 09:00:20 pm »

I'm thinking about planting a little buckwheat, now that UF has had success with it down here, but I have been hesitant to because I've read that a lot of folks don't like the honey.

I would really like to try some buckwheat honey. Would anyone consider selling or trading a sample? I'll pay for the shipping.

Bamabww · « **Reply #7 on:** August 08, 2014, 09:20:50 pm »

Like Riverbee, I have customer after customer ask me all through the spring if I'll have any buckwheat honey for sale. It is highly sought after in my area of the county. I was late getting my buckwheat planted this year because the supplier couldn't get the seeds. He was 6 weeks late getting them this year compared to the last several years because of the demand.

I'm on my second bloom in one field and just mowed down and disked in two other fields today. Hoping some of this rain bypassing us now will stop over us and stay a few hours.

lazy shooter · « **Reply #8 on:** August 09, 2014, 09:58:47 am »

Quote from: Bamabww on August 08, 2014, 09:20:50 pm

Like Riverbee, I have customer after customer ask me all through the spring if I'll have any buckwheat honey for sale. It is highly sought after in my area of the county. I was late getting my buckwheat planted this year because the supplier couldn't get the seeds. He was 6 weeks late getting them this year compared to the last several years because of the demand.

I'm on my second bloom in one field and just mowed down and disked in two other fields today. Hoping some of this rain bypassing us now will stop over us and stay a few hours.

What is the freeze hardness where you live? I'm in zone 8 or 7b and I am wondering if buckwheat will that 100 degree weather. Lazy

apisbees · « **Reply #9 on:** August 09, 2014, 11:40:31 am »

Buckwheat requires moisture to grow and produce nectar so if there is not enough moisture to keep the grass green and growing, then with out irrigation it wont produce much.

Bamabww · « **Reply #10 on:** August 09, 2014, 01:02:36 pm »

Quote from: lazy shooter on August 09, 2014, 09:58:47 am

Quote from: Bamabww on August 08, 2014, 09:20:50 pm
Like Riverbee, I have customer after customer ask me all through the spring if I'll have any buckwheat honey for sale. It is highly sought after in my area of the county. I was late getting my buckwheat planted this year because the supplier couldn't get the seeds. He was 6 weeks late getting them this year compared to the last several years because of the demand.

I'm on my second bloom in one field and just mowed down and disked in two other fields today. Hoping some of this rain bypassing us now will stop over us and stay a few hours.

What is the freeze hardness where you live? I'm in zone 8 or 7b and I am wondering if buckwheat will that 100 degree weather. Lazy

I'm in zone 7a.

Bamabww · « **Reply #11 on:** August 09, 2014, 01:09:21 pm »

Quote from: apisbees on August 09, 2014, 11:40:31 am

Buckwheat requires moisture to grow and produce nectar so if there is not enough moisture to keep the grass green and growing, then with out irrigation it wont produce much.

But that's true about almost everything that produces nectar. It doesn't take much moisture to bring it up. After I planted almost 2 acres I got, according to my rain gauge, 1/4 " of rain and I got a really good stand from that little moisture. After that 1/4" we went 3 weeks without any rain. The buckwheat was already up a good stand before it got any significant water. Since then we had just under average rainfall for our area but it is thriving.

Jen · « **Reply #12 on:** August 09, 2014, 01:20:38 pm »

Bama, do you water your buckwheat?

Apis, "Buckwheat requires moisture to grow and produce nectar so if there is not enough moisture to keep the grass green and growing, then with out irrigation it wont produce much.

Randy- "I would really like to try some buckwheat honey. Would anyone consider selling or trading a sample? I'll pay for the shipping.

I'm with Randy, would pay extra expense to try some buckwheat honey. If anyone is willing to ship some to Randy, put me on the list as well... Thanks

Bamabww · « **Reply #13 on:** August 09, 2014, 02:42:50 pm »

Quote from: Jen on August 09, 2014, 01:20:38 pm

Bama, do you water your buckwheat?

No, I don't water the buckwheat.

riverbee · « **Reply #14 on:** August 10, 2014, 01:12:04 am »

"Buckwheat requires moisture to grow and produce nectar so if there is not enough moisture to keep the grass green and growing, then with out irrigation it wont produce much."

apis, we have never watered/irrigated the buckwheat and it grows like crazy here, and like wayne we have not watered it, and don't water it, and there has been no rain here in my little river valley of wisconsin this year since around the first of july. ?

randy and jen, when i harvest the frames of honey from the buckwheat, jars sent to both of you......

riverbee · « **Reply #15 on:** August 10, 2014, 01:24:50 am »

"What is the freeze hardness where you live? I'm in zone 8 or 7b and I am wondering if buckwheat will that 100 degree weather. Lazy"

oops forgot lazy shooter, zone 4b.....

Jen · « **Reply #16 on:** August 10, 2014, 02:06:38 am »

Riv- "randy and jen, when i harvest the frames of honey from the buckwheat, jars sent to both of you......

Oh Wow! That would be Super Cool! Hey Randy, we'll be a two man team and taste test Riv's buckwheat honey, that would be Fun

rcannon · « **Reply #17 on:** August 10, 2014, 02:14:15 pm »

I'm in, Jen. Thanks, river. I'll send you some galberry honey.

Jen · « **Reply #18 on:** August 10, 2014, 05:27:58 pm »

And Riv... I'll send you some of my ruby honey

riverbee · « **Reply #19 on:** August 11, 2014, 01:39:52 am »

jen, i don't need any ruby honey sister.......

i won't be extracting until late august or early september, and rc, love the trade! will let you two know!