🐝💗Our Backyard Beekeeping Journey!💗🐝

[drstratton]

I have started seeing bees on the buckwheat. It bloomed, and they ignored it (other pollinators didn't), and I told them, "Ladies, I planted that just for you!" (Not quite true, but oh well.)

Someone at the bee club said if they aren't where you're expecting to see them, it's because they found something else they like better.

Just like a toddler, I don't want the toy, the box is better.
I've heard that too! And from what I remember about buckwheat, I don't blame them...lol Curious to see if it's how I remember, hoping it's better.

 

[Sally PB]

Hubby said buckwheat honey was his favorite as a kid. I don't think we'll have enough buckwheat to compete with the goldenrod coming on.

Next spring, I plan to plant a LOT of buckwheat. Its other use is to crowd out/shade out weeds. It sprouts quickly, and has decent sized leaves right away, shading out whatever else is there. It does not fix nitrogen. After it blooms, I'll cut it down, toss some chicken poop compost on top of it, and let it add organic matter to the soil.

I'm thinking I might rest some of the soil in one area in my garden. I might plant 2 or even 3 courses of buckwheat in that spot. I could move that area around, year to year.

 

[drstratton]

Hubby said buckwheat honey was his favorite as a kid. I don't think we'll have enough buckwheat to compete with the goldenrod coming on.

Next spring, I plan to plant a LOT of buckwheat. Its other use is to crowd out/shade out weeds. It sprouts quickly, and has decent sized leaves right away, shading out whatever else is there. It does not fix nitrogen. After it blooms, I'll cut it down, toss some chicken poop compost on top of it, and let it add organic matter to the soil.

I'm thinking I might rest some of the soil in one area in my garden. I might plant 2 or even 3 courses of buckwheat in that spot. I could move that area around, year to year.

Have you ever tried clover as a cover crop? We've not done that. We are however planting clover in front of our Apiary this fall.

 

[Sally PB]

The thing about buckwheat is that frost kills it, so it can't become a problem. I planted alfalfa to enrich the soil in part of my garden many years ago. I tilled it under the next spring. 1/3 of it came back. I tilled it under again, some still came back. It sends roots down very deep, and it's hard to kill. The plants and the roots wrapped around the tiller tines, and that was a pain.

It's GREAT for the soil, but I needed it to go away. I can still find an odd alfalfa plant, and I pull it out.

I don't know if clover would do that, but I don't want a repeat. I don't till much anymore; I'm not sure if the tiller will even start after sitting for 2 years.

I am thinking of putting in a clover plot somewhere else though.

 

[Apis mellifera]

We are thinking we'll put a 3rd deep box on top of The Newbees, no QE. This is their first year, so whatever they make, they can keep.

If its drawn they may fill it up, but if its not they're not likely to draw a full deep now. Its getting late.

 

[drstratton]

The thing about buckwheat is that frost kills it, so it can't become a problem. I planted alfalfa to enrich the soil in part of my garden many years ago. I tilled it under the next spring. 1/3 of it came back. I tilled it under again, some still came back. It sends roots down very deep, and it's hard to kill. The plants and the roots wrapped around the tiller tines, and that was a pain.

It's GREAT for the soil, but I needed it to go away. I can still find an odd alfalfa plant, and I pull it out.

I don't know if clover would do that, but I don't want a repeat. I don't till much anymore; I'm not sure if the tiller will even start after sitting for 2 years.

I am thinking of putting in a clover plot somewhere else though.

That's right, I remember you saying that the buckwheat dies with frost.
I don't blame you, tilling is hard work.
Sounds like that was a bit of a nightmare.

 

[Sally PB]

If its drawn they may fill it up, but if its not they're not likely to draw a full deep now. Its getting late.

I know we don't have 8 frames of drawn comb to put in it, but would it be worth putting it on, for them to "get started on?" Or would be be just giving them a bunch of empty space that will be dead cold air?

Would a medium be any better? Again, I don't know how much drawn comb we'd have to put in it.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

I know we don't have 8 frames of drawn comb to put in it, but would it be worth putting it on, for them to "get started on?" Or would be be just giving them a bunch of empty space that will be dead cold air?

Would a medium be any better? Again, I don't know how much drawn comb we'd have to put in it.

I will drop 2 mediums, hopefully 3 of drawn comb each hive for fall flow. I only put foundation on in the early spring when the queen is starting to crank up for the spring flow. I have found bees aren't real interested in drawing comb in the fall as they are more concerned with winter prep. I only run 2 10 frame deeps over winter to keep dead air space to a minimum. I was going to go 9 frame but decided to wait till next spring only because I don't know if they would have drawn the extra space.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

Have a nice window of 4 days below 85F next wk. Time for the Formic Pro 2 wk treatment. Chk brood pattern and how their stores look before the fall flow.

 

[R2elk]

Have you ever tried clover as a cover crop? We've not done that. We are however planting clover in front of our Apiary this fall.

Honeybees love sweet clover. It comes up the first year and blooms heavily the second year and then dies. Great for adding nitrogen to the soil.

It is used here as a cover crop along the right of ways by the highway department to get the regular grasses started. Eventually heavy grass will crowd it out.