[kenr]

whats the difference between hairy&common vetch the stores around here are selling the common vetch but said they will sell the hairy vetch this fall.Also is common vetch good bee forage?

 

[Curtis]

http://www.beesource.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=000340#000001

Read the links also. There are conflicting statements.
Curtis

 

[Ross]

My bees definitely work hairy vetch.

 

[Tia]

I made the bad mistake of planting hairy vetch as a winter cover. It's extremely invasive and now I can't get rid of the darn stuff. To add insult to injury I've never seen my girls work it.

 

[Jim Young]

My bees are actively working a 15 acre of Hairy Vetch, both morning and afternoon. There is a possibility that other nectar flows are limited in the area due to the past Fall and this Spring drought we are experiencing.

 

[Ross]

Hairy vetch is one of the best things you can do for the soil as well. It is a great green manure crop. Cut it short in the summertime and it should largely burn out. It will freely reseed, and I love it.

 

[Bill Ruble]

What about crown vetch? it is everywhere around here but i've never seen honeybees on it. Bumble bees, yes but not honey bees. Any idea if they work it? I think the flowers are too deep for them.
Bill

 

[Jim Young]

I've seen both, bumble bees and honey bees, work Crown Vetch in my area.

 

[FordGuy]

I saw bumble bees on hairy vetch, but no honeybees. I guess they like it shaved.

 

[Ross]

I don't cut it until after the bloom.

 

[ainsof]

I've spoken with several old time beeks in our area who swear by crown vetch as forage when clover or other sources aren't available. Don't have any personal experience though.