In article <002f01c3a0c5$2fd07d20$ed3ab08e@User>, al picketts
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>Phacelia tenacetifolia is better for bee forage and soil
>improvement growing quite tall (3 feet) while Phacelia campanularia is short
>(1 foot).  This explains why the seed I got from Germany grew very lush,
>tall, bee-attractive and lots of honey while the seed I got from Man. was
>short, sparce, not very bee-attractive and not much honey. The bloom time
>for the German Phacelia was a loooong time (~8 wks) but the other was about
>10 days. Needless to say I would try to find the lush variety if I were to
>grow it again.

Not actually the case in my experience. The same batch of seed of
Phacelia tancetifolia  (aka Tansy leafed Phacelia) can produce this
range of results.

I am involved in the planting of this for bee forage with several
farmers on set-aside land here in Scotland.

The growth of the pattern of the crop depends on the soil conditions at
planting time. Dry soil produces poor germination and thin spindly
growth. This in turn gives rise to small and few flowering heads, thus a
short blooming time.

A similarly dismal return can occur if the conditions are cold and wet.

However, if there is plentiful moisture, and soil temperatures are
adequate (I don't know the figures) then germination is rapid, growth is
lush, and flowering is relatively abundant and prolonged, although I
would suggest more like four weeks than eight. Drilling to flowering is
about 7 weeks in this country.

The whole field is alive with insects at flowering time and you hear the
noise of bees before you see them. Very beneficial to all sorts of
nectar loving insects, and teems with honeybees, bumble bees, and
butterflies.

Good nectar yielder most years, the honey being very white, and with a
mild floral perfume and mild flavour.

If you are in the UK seed is available from agricultural merchants,
around GBP 8 per Kg. For soil improvement a rate of 6 to 12 Kg per
hectare is recommended, but if mainly for nectar then 3 Kg is plenty.
This gives better plant spacing and more branching, hence a longer
period of flower.

Unofficial seed sources are available at lower prices. N.America pricing
I have no idea of. We generally charge the farmers for the seed at cost,
and as we source it through unofficial channels we can usually offer it
at around GBP 3.00 Kg. The crop puts a lot of dry matter into the soil,
and the tap root is long and strong so it breaks up hard pan lower down.
Farmers are, in general, glad to try it and find the lower seed cost to
be attractive.

A good growth of this stuff can yield, I am told, enough seed to replant
1000 times the area harvested.

'Topping'  the crop before completion of flowering can sometimes give
rise to a second flowering about a month later.

Pollen is very distinctive so you can tell if the bees are working this
crop. It is an inky dark navy purple, but can look very dark blue, or
even black, in certain light conditions.

Hope this helps

Murray
--
Murray McGregor

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