Helping a fellow Aussie out

[Ray Bayless]

G'day Mates,

In the general postings there's a guy looking for information about:

User Name: OzBuzz
"Hello folks, greetings from Australia! Just wondering if any of you put hives on lavender? What are the recommended stocking rates to get a surplus? Is lavender a good yielder of nectar and pollen? Are there any special management practices I should consider? What's the honey like?"

Now I just don't have a clue what to tell him. I hope you guys can. From South Carolina, Y'all have a wonderful day.

[Ray Bayless]

Thanks for helping out.

[the-ecohouse.com]

hey ozbuzz i have had hives on lavender before.
the yield varied depending on the sort of lavender and how far along it is,
but it was pretty good all in all when i got it right as the field turned its purplest..if that make scene

[OzBuzz]

Ray thanks mate for cross posting that - I went to general beekeeping only because putting hives on lavender here in Oz isn't all that common! But looks like Eco is our man (as usual ) thanks again mate!

Hey Eco, what rate did you stock them at? Currently I've got 6 on about 6 acres of crop! The majority of it is, and I'm gonna take a guess here (but I will ask to make sure), French lavender... Theres also some ornamental varieties as well. What sort of yield did you get and was there much pollen?

Talk about frenzied activity from the feral bees in the area when I put the stickies on today! I don't think there's much out there other than the lavender at the moment...

[OzBuzz]

Also, most of it at about the second of third flower open stage...

[OzBuzz]

More to come

[OzBuzz]

Eco, was the crop you were on for oil or seed? I inspected mine today and they've brought in very little - I suspect they're topping up stores in the brood best before laying a surplus

[OzBuzz]

Sadly I'm not getting anything useful off this crop! looks like it's just too dry for it to produce any meaningful amounts of nectar

[edward]

Wind can also dry up nectar 


mvh edward