How do bees go on olives.

[bernsad]

Do bees get anything useful out of olive trees? There are a couple of growers near me I'm thinking of approaching if it's worthwhile. Has anyone put their girls on olives before?

[kingbee]

... Do bees get anything useful out of olive trees? ...

I hope this helps.  Good luck.

http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/olive.html

[FRAMEshift]

I have a potted olive tree (from Sicily) next to my bee yard.  It blooms but I have yet to see any fruit.  The bees have not shown an interest in the flowers.

[bernsad]

Thanks for the information guys, it doesn't look like there is much there for the girls.

[duck]

cross pollination is what your after with olives.

[bernsad]

The article that kingbee posted indicates that olives are mostly wind pollinated.

[kingbee]

Don't allow that wind pollinated thing to stop you.  Do find out whether olives are worked by bees for pollen and nectar.  Soybeans and cotton are both important crops in both your country as well as mine.  Honeybees work both these crops even though soybeans and cotton do not need or benefit from honeybee pollination.

It may be that a lush ground coven like Dutch clover is planted in olive groves and your bees may live the life of Reilly in olive groves even though the olives them selves are a complete bust. 

Pick a pack nick lunch and spend a day lounging in an olive grove to check out the incidental bee forage for yourself.