A lot of different nectar sources can be strong. Smartweed is a strong fall honey around here that is somewhat dark. But back to Goldenrod, it does change flavor over time. Usually improving as you go...
A lot of different nectar sources can be strong. Smartweed is a strong fall honey around here that is somewhat dark. But back to Goldenrod, it does change flavor over time. Usually improving as you go...
I don’t intend on hijacking this thread, but I started digging on the internet about Honeydew honey and it is very interesting. Learned something new. Many thanks!You very well can have a high proportion of HoneyDew honey in it.
Good for human consumption; unusual taste; easy to test for to confirm.
Bad for the bees.
Presence of Honeydew honey in late honeys is typically downplayed as if insignificant.
I think this is a mistake.
I, in fact, saved some of that 2018 honey and want to test it.I don’t intend on hijacking this thread, but I started digging on the internet about Honeydew honey and it is very interesting. Learned something new. Many thanks!
Ryan
Until you test and have a affirmative result - you don't know if and how much you actually have it.I’ve always heard honeydew is bad to overwinter bees on but my only experience was quite the opposite. Some of the best spring doubles I’ve ever had were hives packed with honeydew.
If they consume it right away WHILE still being able to poop outside - that is a non-issue.About two years ago this part of the country was infested with the aphids that secrete honeydew. It was mainly in the Hackberry trees. Everywhere a Hackberry was overhanging a paved back road it would be wet with the stuff.
Honeybees, Yellow Jackets and Red Wasps were all over the one we have in our yard. The bees must have collected a lot of it, although I don't know how much.
I didn't notice any detrimental effects from them consuming it over the Winter. In fact, as Jim said above, all was well next Spring.
Alex
Yes had a leading packer test it and said no doubt about it.Until you test and have a affirmative result - you don't know if and how much you actually have it.
Did you test and know for the fact?
OK then.Yes had a leading packer test it and said no doubt about it.
Yes had a leading packer test it and they said no doubt about it. It was a once in a beekeeping life phenomena for me. Raised about 30,000 lbs of it in a drought with no forage in sight. Just brown grass and scrub oak trees (apparently aphid infested). The bees packed everything full including the brood nests oddest flow I’ve ever seen.Until you test and have a affirmative result - you don't know if and how much you actually have it.
Did you test and know for the fact?
How was the winter that season?Yes had a leading packer test it and they said no doubt about it. It was a once in a beekeeping life phenomena for me. Raised about 30,000 lbs of it in a drought with no forage in sight. Just brown grass and scrub oak trees (apparently aphid infested). The bees packed everything full including the brood nests oddest flow I’ve ever seen.
My next thought was these bees are going to suck next spring. Turned out to be my strongest hives.
It is generally bad for the bees - the blanket statement is intended - because it has to do with pooping (very general thing).I did state, "in my part of the country", in response to your blanket statement of "Bad for the bees", instead of, "Bad for my Northern bees. .......
I rarely see the bees on pine trees, when I do, they are on the needles...
Alex