Sugar Substitutes?

**beecuz** · 12-10-2010, 09:55 AM

Are there other things we can grow to feed our bees in the winter? Sugar is so pricey these days and I have a lot of land available to me to grow crops, I wondered if I could grow something to make a sweet syrup for winter feeding for my bees, ie., Stevia, or anything else. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Or should I just keep buying those bags of sugar?

beecuz

"...for breath is sweeter taken even as the last in places dear...with gardens, fields and dogwood trees...in forest stands of bamboo shoots...of ginger root...and honey bees."

**brac** · 12-10-2010, 11:07 AM

Sugar cane....

**D Coates** · 12-10-2010, 12:35 PM

When you look at the time, fuel, seeds, equipment, and wear and tear on the equipment I am betting you'll find it would simply be easier and far less expensive to buy the sugar.

**jrbbees** · 12-10-2010, 12:50 PM

Buy sugar for human use. That way you have a much better idea what is going in your hives.

Many things are sweet. Many of those sweets are not good for bees.

Stick with 'white processed sugar'.

**RiodeLobo** · 12-10-2010, 12:51 PM

Plus if the land is vacant you could plant some nectar producing plants and possibly up your honey production. I would pick something very low maintenance.

Dan

**KQ6AR** · 12-10-2010, 05:53 PM

Can't you grow sugar cane in Florida?

**Michael Bush** · 12-10-2010, 06:34 PM

Plant sweet clover or anise hyssop and let the bees make the food...

**valleyman** · 12-10-2010, 07:04 PM

HFCS is usually cheaper, and it hasn't killed my bees yet.

**yamahawg** · 12-10-2010, 11:12 PM

Am I missing something here? Maybe it's just me....but if I had lots of land to plant something, it would be something that would attract the bees naturally to gather nectar, which would mean honey, which would mean you could leave them some to overwinter. Now don't get me wrong, i'm not all against feeding, as I did harvest this past year, my first year by the way, and left 2 med., 8 frame supers above a deep for them after I took 1 from each of the 2 hives for myself. Starting to get long winded here, but closer to fall some of the frames were getting empty so I did feed. But yeah, plant something to benefit the bees, and they will take care of it!

**Merlyn Votaw** · 12-10-2010, 11:26 PM

I buy cane sugar from a local Beekeeper for $125.00 for a 450 lb barrell.Not table sugar but the bees like idfine.Sure beats walmart prices Find a local supplier You should have someone down your way that sells honey for bees