Beekeeping and Japanese Knotweed

[Graperunner]

I read an article about a beekeeper who did not want his bees where there was Japanese Knotweed.
The reason was not explained, does anyone know what the reason may be?

Paul

[Rader Sidetrack]

Perhaps he thinks honey flavor from Japanese Knotweed is too strong.

Japanese knotweed flowers are valued by some beekeepers as an important source of nectar for honeybees, at a time of year when little else is flowering. Japanese knotweed yields a monofloral honey, usually called bamboo honey by northeastern U.S. beekeepers, like a mild-flavored version of buckwheat honey (a related plant also in the Polygonaceae).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_knotweed

It is also reported to crystallize fairly quickly. Here is one beek's perspective:
http://www.honeybeesuite.com/knotty-but-nice-for-bees/


Some Beesource members like it:
http://www.beesource.com/forums/show...anese-Knotweed

[jim lyon]

I think only the beekeeper could answer that question. Yes it can discolor your lighter honey but it also comes in a bit later so the early honey can be seperated by removing it before the knotweed flow begins. To this beekeeper any honeyflow is a good one.

[Vance G]

As someone said: I can sell dark, I can't sell empty!

[Mr. C]

This just came up on a thread on Bee-L recently. Apparently knotweed produces an ok tasting honey, but the smell is off. Some of the commercial guys said that it was great for overwintering, but that honey packers would reject it, because even diluted it would still have the smell. You can search the Bee-L archives to find the thread, I think it was under Midwestern Beekeeping. I believe it was mentioned that some would move to the riverbottoms where the knotweed was after pulling honey to build up for Winter.

[cg3]

I have to disagree about Knotweed honey having an off smell. The last 2 years, I've won the dark honey catagory at our County Fair with honey that was mainly Knotweed. Good flavor and it comes at a time when, otherwise, we'd be in a dearth.