Sunflowers

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Ceejae
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Joined: December 9th, 2016, 6:07 pm

Sunflowers

Unread post by Ceejae »

I was hoping someone could tell me what are the best sunflower seeds to grow for our honeybees and the best place to get them. I don't,t want to poison my bees. Can someone help, please?
Allen Dick
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Re: Sunflowers

Unread post by Allen Dick »

I don't think you can go wrong, but be aware that sunflower honey is dark and a bit bitter. Some people like it, but it makes nasty comb honey
Nasty does not equal nice.
Allen Dick, RR#1 Swalwell, Alberta, Canada T0M 1Y0
51° 33'39.64"N 113°18'52.45"W
http://www.honeybeeworld.com/Allen%27s%20Beehives.kmz
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Berdy
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Joined: January 11th, 2017, 12:52 am

Re: Sunflowers

Unread post by Berdy »

Allen Dick wrote:I don't think you can go wrong, but be aware that sunflower honey is dark and a bit bitter. Some people like it, but it makes nasty comb honey
Nasty does not equal nice.
Agreed, I really don't like sunflower seed honey.
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Charlie
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Re: Sunflowers

Unread post by Charlie »

Allen I believe when I was picking a hive up from you 2-3 years ago you mentioned that sugar syrup was better than sunflower honey for wintering bees, something about the particles that make the honey dark also plug up the bees. Maybe you could elaborate.
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Re: Sunflowers

Unread post by Allen Dick »

Its about that simple. Darker honies usually have more solids in them and solids are a problem for wintering bees. Some solids are irritants. Other solids (ash or indigestible matter), even if they are not irritating, accumulate in the gut and cause the bees to need to fly out to empty their wastes. Flying in bad weather results in losses.

Strong tasting honies may also contain spicy chemicals that are mildly toxic or have drug-like effects that can disquiet a colony
Allen Dick, RR#1 Swalwell, Alberta, Canada T0M 1Y0
51° 33'39.64"N 113°18'52.45"W
http://www.honeybeeworld.com/Allen%27s%20Beehives.kmz
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