Planting for the bees

**Ben Franklin** · 08-09-2012, 07:22 PM

Anyone had bees work Fennel??

**mmmooretx** · 08-17-2012, 06:11 AM

Originally Posted by Katharina

I like in the higher elevation with long winter and very dry summers. One thing that grows well and smells great is sweet clover. My bees go nuts over it. I order my crop seeds from Johnny Select.
http://www.johnnyseeds.com/c-4-cover...arm-seeds.aspx
They also sell a bee feed mix. http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-8625-bee-feed-mix.aspx

I just ordered 5 lbs of the Sweet Clover, will sow 1/2 this year, vac. seal and do the rest next year. That way I should have some every year....
Thanks again, BTW Katharina, I was born in Eugene many moons ago.

**Lburou** · 08-17-2012, 08:57 AM

You might look at Beekeeping Etc ....I won some of their seeds as a door prize at a Metrobeekeepers meeting (DFW area).

The advantage of a mix of seeds is that you can give several varieties a chance, then plant more of those that grow the best in your soil and micro climate.

**Lburou** · 08-21-2012, 09:08 PM

Here is another source for regional seed mixes.

**danmcm** · 08-22-2012, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by mmmooretx

I just ordered 5 lbs of the Sweet Clover, will sow 1/2 this year, vac. seal and do the rest next year.

Why would you vac seal seed? They are alive and need to respire all be it at a low rate but vac seal sounds like a bad idea. put in zip lock which allow some breathing and store in frig would be a safer way to go...

**mmmooretx** · 08-22-2012, 01:30 PM

That's probably a good call, thanks.

**Tohya** · 08-22-2012, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by Katharina

They also sell a bee feed mix. http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-8625-bee-feed-mix.aspx

www.seedland.com sells bee mixies for about half that price.

**USCBeeMan** · 08-23-2012, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by danmcm

Why would you vac seal seed? They are alive and need to respire all be it at a low rate but vac seal sounds like a bad idea. put in zip lock which allow some breathing and store in frig would be a safer way to go...

Better yet, just put it in a jar with the lid loose. Mix it well with food grade DE. Nothing will bother it.

**bannonb** · 08-27-2012, 04:27 PM

I am in dry Colorado and found that my new hives love Russian Sage and in my veg/herb garden they go crazy for oregano.

I spread pounds and pounds of wildflower mix in the acreage-even watered it for 2 weeks, but we've had a terrible drought and I didn't get any flowers at all from that exercise. I need to see if sweet Clover would grow in dry clay :-)

BannonB