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Date: | Tue, 31 Mar 1998 12:59:03 -0400 |
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Stan Sandler wrote:
>
> Hi Dave (and all): You wrote: (snip, snip)
>
> > Unfortunately, buckwheat acreages are much reduced from previous years,
> and >the new hybrid varities do not yield as much nectar as the old.
>
> > The old varieties of buckwheat were some of the best honey producing
> plants >that have ever been prized by beekeepers.
>
> A fellow here in PEI grew about 20 acres of buckwheat and got some hives
> from me for pollination. They didn't seem to be working it very well (and
> it was in the morning, I knew about that) although there were lots of
> bumblebees and wasps in it. So I didn't charge him, but he gave me a few
> hundred pounds of seed and the next year I planted it (about 8 acres). Same
> thing happened: lots of bumbles and wasps, very few honeybees. The first
> year I could at least see quite a few combs of buckwheat honey (I love the
> taste myself), the second year I did not even see much buckwheat honey.
>
> I wouldn't mind growing it again if I could get some of the seed of the old
> varieties you mentioned. Do you happen to know the names of them? Do you
> know where one might get them?
>
> There is also supposed to be two sort of buckwheat families, tartarian and
> silver-hulled. But I know no more than that.
>
> Would like more info before I plant another crop that the bees ignore!!
>
> Regards, Stan
Stan:
A year or more ago, I saw a report (not on line, as I remember) which
was an English translation of a Russian study on nectar producing
plants. They referred to several varieties of buckwheat by name, and
reported on their study as to nectar and pollen supplies. There was a
vast difference in them. I wonder if there is any way of accessing this
Russian study? As I remember, there were several European countries
also included in the study.
I had the same experience as you did about ten years ago. A new field,
recently claimed from woodlot, had been planted to buckwheat as cheap
cover crop. My hives were less than 1/4 mile away, and got very little
nectar. It was a real disappointment, as buckwheat is one of my
favorite honeys.
Hope this helps.
Eunice
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