{"id":103427,"date":"2022-11-02T13:00:12","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T17:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.hobbyfarms.com\/?p=103427"},"modified":"2022-11-01T11:15:48","modified_gmt":"2022-11-01T15:15:48","slug":"grow-forage-to-feed-honeybees-pollen-nectar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/grow-forage-to-feed-honeybees-pollen-nectar\/","title":{"rendered":"Grow Forage To Help Feed Honeybees Pollen & Nectar"},"content":{"rendered":"

T<\/span>iming\u2014and, namely, timely access to good food\u2014is everything to a honeybee. \u201cPollen is the honeybees\u2019 protein source, and nectar is their carbohydrate source,\u201d Amy Vu says. Vu is a state specialized program extension agent with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ideally, you should offer a mix of pollen- and nectar-rich trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals that will flower in succession. That means providing some food sources that will pay dividends for your hives long into late fall and still others that will serve them during very early spring.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust as people need a balanced diet, we try to get a balanced diet of pollen and nectar resources <\/span>for the honeybees,\u201d Vu says. \u201cThat helps them <\/span>to do just about everything in the colony. <\/span>They make wax and honeycomb. They feed the brood in the colony.<\/p>\n

“There are lots of things that they do with those nectar and pollen resources.\u201d<\/p>\n

For queen bees, that includes laying eggs to build up the requisite population numbers to take full advantage of the coming nectar flow. And, when it comes to pollen, it\u2019s not just the quantity of available sources that matters. Quality counts for a lot, too.<\/p>\n

Pollen Power<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u201cThose pollen sources that are rich in essential amino acids are really going to be the most useful for honeybees,\u201d says William Kern. Kern is an associate professor in the department of entomology and nematology at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center of the University of Florida<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Honeybees require several essential amino acids, including arginine, leucine, lysine and tryptophan, among others. The concentrations of these amino acids, as well as proteins, found in pollen vary widely depending on plant sources. Such variations in pollen quality can greatly influence a colony\u2019s spring buildup and overall success.<\/p>\n

According to a 2018 study published in the American Journal of Entomology<\/i>, \u201cPollen containing <\/span>less than 20 percent crude protein cannot satisfy the colony requirements for its development and optimum honey production. The level of protein <\/span>in bees\u2019 food significantly affects the amount of brood reared, the protein content of bee hemolymph, the metabolism, and the quality of food <\/span>for the larvae. Low protein content in pollen also reduces the resistance of honeybees to diseases.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Although providing ample forage outside of the summer months can be challenging, the forage we are able to provide just might pack a slightly bigger nutritional punch. After analyzing various pollen types that honeybees had collected over the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons, the study\u2019s authors determined that spring-blooming plants had higher protein contents (21.1 to 27.8 percent) than their summer (13.9 to 23.5 percent) and fall (15.1 to 25.1 percent) coun<\/span>terparts.<\/p>\n

Those higher protein levels appeared to give the honeybees a notable boost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe nutritional value of pollen varies between different plant species and may differ significantly in amino acid composition and\/or concentration, and this affects the growth of a bee colony,\u201d the authors state. \u201cThere is a relationship between the nutritional value of pollen and the development, reproduction and productivity of bee colonies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Read more: Seasonal shifts mean nectar flow changes for bees.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Trees Please!<\/b><\/h2>\n

With so much at stake, how can you be sure your hives have enough natural forage? Offering your bees access to plenty of early-
\nblooming trees is one of the most effective ways to meet their nutritional needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor the eastern U.S., the Midwest and southern Canada, some of your best choices are going to be the maples,\u201d Kern says. \u201cThey\u2019re one of the first trees to flower, and they\u2019re a good choice for pollen. <\/span><\/p>\n

“The other good pollen source that\u2019s really early is the willow. As soon as it\u2019s warm enough for the bees to start foraging, those trees will be flowering. The maples, oftentimes, will flower before they even have any leaves. And the willows will produce their catkins generally before they start leafing out fully.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Depending on your location and climate, sugar and red maple trees are good choices. As for the willows, Kern says, \u201cFor most of the country, that\u2019s going to be the black willow. And, for the southeast, it\u2019s going to be the coastal willow.\u201d<\/p>\n

White and weeping willows are also good, early pollen sources. If you\u2019re looking for smaller, bee-friendly trees or shrubs that flower early, you might also consider redbuds, northern spicebush, serviceberry or peach, plum or cherry trees.<\/span><\/p>\n

Block Party<\/b><\/h2>\n

As for herbaceous plants that can perform for bees in late-winter or early-spring, consider cover crops. Vetches or early clovers, as well as plants in the brassica family such as rapeseed, radishes or turnips, just might fit the bill where you live.<\/p>\n

\u201cMembers of the mustard family are pretty tolerant of the cold weather,\u201d Kern says. \u201cThey\u2019re some of the first flowering plants. Even if you want to put out a plot for deer and you\u2019re going to use things like daikon radish or sugar beets, those would be early flowering. So, as soon as the frost was over, they\u2019d come up and produce flowers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because they typically span large areas, cover crops can afford bees at least one extra benefit. Once in bloom, these sections of land provide uniform blocks of color and scent. This makes them potentially easier for honeybees to discover.<\/p>\n

So, when adding bee-attracting annual or perennial flowering plants to your landscape, place large blocks of the same plant variety together. This like-with-like planting scheme can give early foragers a much-needed assist.<\/p>\n

As Matthew Shepherd and colleagues explain in The Xerces Society\u2019s<\/a> Pollinator Conservation Handbook<\/i>, \u201cIt is preferable to create a block of color with a single species. It is even better to group a single species of native plants, since the blooms of a particular native species will tend to vary little in color. Hybrids, on the other hand, are bred for their colors and often display a vast range.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA single pack of lupine seed, for example, may yield blooms of many colors, while native lupines of the same species will all be the same color,\u201d Shepherd says.<\/p>\n

And, although they may not be as showy or varied as their hybrid competition, many nonhybrids are richer sources of nectar or pollen as well. (In fact, \u201cpollenless\u201d varieties are now for sale. While these may make cut-flower bouquets less messy, they aren\u2019t likely to boost your bees\u2019 protein levels.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Read more: Protect your bees against common predators.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

More Plant Possibilities<\/b><\/h2>\n

As you think about which flowering plants to add for your bees, consider your growing conditions and your specific needs. Need later fall-flowering plants? You might add a block of New England asters or several different kinds of goldenrod. (There is showy goldenrod, stiff goldenrod, tall goldenrod, late goldenrod and many more.)<\/p>\n

Or, if you need more early bloomers, find out which native wildflowers are among the first to pop up in your area and include as wide a variety of those as you can. For instance, known as \u201cwhite beardtongue,\u201d smooth penstemon is one early bloomer that thrives in most U.S. hardiness zones and is native to the eastern U.S. Out west, the California poppy comes on early and is an important pollen source. <\/span><\/p>\n

Check in with your regional plant association, native plant specialty growers, or your state\u2019s department of natural resources for extra guidance on your native wildflowers.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also plant spring-flowering bulbs\u2014especially crocuses and snowdrops\u2014for still more early forage. Of course, not all flowering bulbs will satisfy your honeybees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you get some of the hybrid irises, they may not be good pollen producers,\u201d Kern says. \u201cAnd, generally, tulips will produce pollen. But I\u2019m not sure they\u2019re really great nectar sources.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Certain floral colors will also be more appealing than others. \u201cSpecifically look for flowers that are either white or blue,\u201d Kern says. \u201cAnd some of the red flowers are OK. If you look at them with an ultraviolet light, they actually have nectar guides.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wonderful Weeds?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Interestingly, some of the best forage you can provide requires the least amount of effort from you. \u201cIn the old days before we were going from row to row with no-till crops, you had fence rows,\u201d Kern says. \u201cAnd fence rows had all kinds of plant diversity that would provide food for pollinators, as well as for birds and other things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Land you allow to go a little bit wild can provide a wealth of forage\u2014forage that can take a beating. \u201cWe have a plant [in Florida]\u2014Spanish needles\u2014that flowers all winter long,\u201d Kern says. \u201cIt even tolerates mild frosts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Henbit is similarly tough, albeit under\u00adappreciated. \u201cThat is another early flowering plant,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd it has a bilateral flower just like mints do. So it\u2019s attractive to both native bees and honeybees.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even if your own weedy patch is modest, early violets, dandelions, chickweed and other volunteers could thrive in that untended habitat. And its impact on your bees could be sizable.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you could set aside even a tenth of an acre, that would be very helpful for the bees,\u201d Kern says.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This article originally appeared in the September\/October 2022 issue of\u00a0<\/i>Hobby Farms\u00a0magazine.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Help out honeybees by growing a variety of forage to provide the various essential nutrients a hive needs to survive and thrive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":103500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[424,433,57,10458,428],"tags":[720,941,11061],"class_list":["post-103427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-animals","category-beekeeping","category-beginning-farmers","category-farm-garden","category-homesteading","tag-bees","tag-honeybees","tag-nectar"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGrow Forage To Help Feed Honeybees Pollen & Nectar - Hobby Farms<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Help out honeybees by growing a variety of forage to provide the various essential nutrients a hive needs to survive and thrive.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/grow-forage-to-feed-honeybees-pollen-nectar\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Grow Forage To Help Feed Honeybees Pollen & Nectar\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Help out honeybees by growing a variety of forage to provide the various essential nutrients a hive needs to survive and thrive.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/grow-forage-to-feed-honeybees-pollen-nectar\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Hobby Farms\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/hobbyfarms\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-11-02T17:00:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-11-01T15:15:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_2126331590.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"462\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Susan Brackney\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@hobbyfarms\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@hobbyfarms\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Susan Brackney\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/grow-forage-to-feed-honeybees-pollen-nectar\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/grow-forage-to-feed-honeybees-pollen-nectar\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Susan Brackney\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/#\/schema\/person\/0ba35a286638b782ac338f4fa1a1fed1\"},\"headline\":\"Grow Forage To Help Feed Honeybees Pollen & Nectar\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-11-02T17:00:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-11-01T15:15:48+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/grow-forage-to-feed-honeybees-pollen-nectar\/\"},\"wordCount\":1544,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/grow-forage-to-feed-honeybees-pollen-nectar\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_2126331590.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"bees\",\"honeybees\",\"nectar\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Animals\",\"Beekeeping\",\"Beginning Farmers\",\"Farm & Garden\",\"Homesteading\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/grow-forage-to-feed-honeybees-pollen-nectar\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/grow-forage-to-feed-honeybees-pollen-nectar\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/grow-forage-to-feed-honeybees-pollen-nectar\/\",\"name\":\"Grow Forage To Help Feed Honeybees Pollen & Nectar - 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