Author Topic: Mint? (Read 10938 times)

Jen · « **on:** February 17, 2015, 01:43:40 am »

Has anyone had luck with bees pollinating mint?

lazy shooter · « **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2015, 08:45:31 am »

Jen:

We have chocolate mint and just plain old mint in our backyard flower bed, and the bees are all over it all summer. Out mint is irrigated via the sprinkler system and blooms nearly all summer. In the mornings, one can just hear a steady buzz. They love it.

Jen · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2015, 11:49:38 am »

Cool!

I'm gonna plant some

mamapoppybee · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2015, 12:49:43 pm »

put it where you dont mind its taking over because mint can become very invasive.

lazy shooter · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2015, 12:58:37 pm »

Quote from: mamapoppybee on February 17, 2015, 12:49:43 pm

put it where you dont mind its taking over because mint can become very invasive.

Yes, it roots out in my yard several feet from the flower bed. It's in a spot where it is mowed on a regular basis, so I just let it grow. It is about three inches tall between mowings.

Jen · « **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2015, 02:17:53 pm »

Does it need to be watered on a regular basis? because we don't water much in the summer, let the lawn go dormant.

pistolpete · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2015, 08:56:26 pm »

Yes, they like mint. Up here mint naturally grows in gravelly beaches and river banks. Definitely a water loving plant. For a drought hardy one that the bees go bonkers for, try russian sage. It's a large perennial that blooms in early fall, when there is often not much else around.

Jen · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2015, 09:11:19 pm »

Good call Pete, I have one of those planted and they are also in many gardens in our extended neighborhood, I see bees all over them when I take my walks. Garlic blooms are great as well, the pic is from my daughters garden, often there are 3-4 bees on one bloom.

Gypsi · « **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2015, 10:47:53 am »

Any mint and they adore oregano too

brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2015, 11:08:47 am »

Have alot of mint in my area, don't know all there names but most wild mints will have a square stem. Bees love it. Jack

Gypsi · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2015, 11:23:40 am »

my bees are doing my broccoli right now. I decided not to harvest as it was the only thing close to blooming.

Jen · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2015, 11:49:07 am »

Gypsi, and Rosemary

Jen · « **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2015, 11:51:04 am »

Gypsi and Jack- my problem is that if mint in invasive I could plant it in my back alley, but the deer will probably eat it. I don't know if they will like mint tho... it would be a good experiment

Gypsi · « **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2015, 12:14:17 pm »

Bees like pennyroyal mint but fleas and ticks don't and YOU sure wouldn't want to eat it. Deer probably wouldn't bother it. It is invasive. Put a metal underground barrier along the fenceline to keep it out of your backyard

mamapoppybee · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2015, 03:50:15 pm »

The russian sage also comes in white and it blooms twice a year hear spring and fall. Love this plant because it is so hard to kill.

Jen · « **Reply #15 on:** February 19, 2015, 04:27:42 pm »

Gypsi- I'll be checking out penny royal mint, Thanks!

Mama- Ooooo! I haven't seen white russian sage, I'll be looking for that as well

mamapoppybee · « **Reply #16 on:** February 20, 2015, 09:34:13 am »

Just no getting mixed up an you trying to drink the flowers. These white russians are for the bee's. ha!

Jen · « **Reply #17 on:** February 20, 2015, 02:23:40 pm »

Well, that takes all the fun out of it mama

hamptor · « **Reply #18 on:** March 04, 2015, 10:14:43 am »

I'm late on this topic, but I've got a ton of mint growing in my backyard. Not sure what variety - just some my mom gave me from her yard. It's in shade - which it loves, and like a little moisture, but I don't water it. It's prolific and hardy - and the deer that eat my sweet potatoes, okra, and peas don't eat the mint.

Jen · « **Reply #19 on:** March 04, 2015, 02:02:29 pm »

Thanks Hampton, this is one of the plants I think I can plant on the bank behind our house. Think I'll plant several varieties