[jwcarlson]

There are acres and acres of this stuff blooming around here right now. It tends to grow in some of the pastures and even in some of the shorter cultivated stuff like alfalfa.

Is it any good as a nectar source? It seems to be in bloom pretty much all spring/summer around here. Even in the alfalfa that gets cut it seems to spring right back up and flower again.

Thanks!

 

[JWChesnut]

Yup, wild mustards are a good pollen and adequate nectar source. The mustard nectar is high glucose proportion, so it crystalizes in the comb (it crystalizes literally within hours). This can make it hard to extract, and difficult for the bees to use as a food source.

In a dearth, where the nectar is being fed right back to the hive, less of an issue with crystalization, and it lets populations build nicely. The Project Apis forage mixes are heavy on the wild mustards/rapa/canola.

 

[jwcarlson]

Yup, wild mustards are a good pollen and adequate nectar source. The mustard nectar is high glucose proportion, so it crystalizes in the comb (it crystalizes literally within hours). This can make it hard to extract, and difficult for the bees to use as a food source.

In a dearth, where the nectar is being fed right back to the hive, less of an issue with crystalization, and it lets populations build nicely. The Project Apis forage mixes are heavy on the wild mustards/rapa/canola.

Interesting on the crystalization, I'll keep an eye on that. It seems to bloom very very early, was in full swing before apples or cherries started. Maybe around the time my blueberries did.