Clover, white or red?

[Charliebuck]

Here in VA, it's been raining almost every day most of May, I think something like 26 out of 31 days. My bees have stored some honey early, and still are able to go out and work on the few days that it has stopped raining.

My question,,There are some farmers in the area, (15 miles or so) away, that grow red clover. Is this type of clover a good source of nector, or is it the white clover that is better?

I was thinking of taking some of my hives to this clover to try and get some more surplus honey, since i believe the nector flow will soon be coming to an end. Or am I wrong, and since it's been raining will the flow just be delayed? Thanks

[BULLSEYE BILL]

As a general rule the red clover flowers are too long for the honey bee's toung to reach the nectar. In a darth, they will chew out the side of the flower to get to the nectar.

I wouldn't bother with the red, find the yellow, or white. I've read that Huban is the overall best.
Bill

[Michael Bush]

>My question,,There are some farmers in the area, (15 miles or so) away, that grow red clover. Is this type of clover a good source of nector, or is it the white clover that is better?

Most bees do not have long enough tongues to reach the nectar in red clover. White clover is a much better nectar source.

A serch on this site reveals these links with info on Red Clover as a nectar source. http://www.beesource.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000708.html http://www.beesource.com/pov/lusby/grout/intro.htm http://www.beesource.com/pov/lusby/grout/review1.htm http://www.beesource.com/pov/lusby/grout/review2.htm http://www.beesource.com/pov/lusby/grout/review3.htm http://www.beesource.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000500.html

The "grout" info goes into a lot of detail about people trying to get bees with long enough tongues to get nectar from red clover.

[dburgess]

Charliebuck, Where do you live in VA?
Here in Ridgeway, VA, which is south central
Virginia, we have a good sourwood season
mid July-first of August. I know exactly what you mean with the rain. Wow. Duane.

[Charliebuck]

Duane,, I have heard and seen on a bottle of honey, the use of the term (sourwood), what is this exactly. What type of tree produces this nector?

Rapidan is a little hamlet about 70 miles south of Washington D.C.

[thesurveyor]

Sourwood is a tree that grows in the mountains of the southeast. I produces a very smooth and very sought after honey.

Thesurveyor

[Charliebuck]

But what is the name of the tree. I would like to know if there are any in my area.

[Michael Bush]

The name of the tree is "Sourwood". Latin name Ericaceae Oxydendrum arboreum. http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrol.../oarboreum.htm

People selling them: http://www.twomblynursery.com/august98plant.htm
http://gurneys.com/sub_cat_disp.asp?...&sub_cat_nbr=2

But Gurney's won't list them because it's too late in the year to plant.

[dburgess]

Charlie, Micheal has provided the technical
name. Us southerners just call it a sourwood
tree. It's found in the foothills and mountains, around here. The honey is a real light colored honey, kind of like clover honey. It is really sought after around here. I think mainly because of it's color.
For some odd reason people prefer buying the light colored honey. Personally I prefer poplar honey as far as taste is concerned. I think it has a better taste and flavor. Little darker than Sourwood. Duane.

[Charliebuck]

Thanks everyone