On the territory of our country, more than a thousand species of melliferous and dust-bearing plants grow, but not all of them are of interest to beekeeping. In each locality, only a few species of melliferous grasses, trees, and shrubs produce the main honey collection, and part of the crops gives a small (supporting) honey collection. Such plants can be attributed to secondary honey plants. The remaining species are not of practical value for such an agricultural industry as beekeeping.
What honey plants are most nectar-producing? The main crops are buckwheat, canola, sunflower, coriander, cotton, clover, sainfoin. Wild honey plants - linden, acacia (yellow and white), willow, maple. In terms of life, honey plants are divided into annuals (melons, buckwheat, sunflower), two-year-olds (angelica, sweet clover) and perennials (wild strawberry, clover, alfalfa, meadow grasses, fruit plantations).
For effective beekeeping, it is very important to have a variety of lands: gardens, forests, fields and meadows. Near the apiary, it is recommended to plant melliferous herbs and trees. Different types of honey plants bloom almost continuously, providing constant honey collection. In spring, dandelion, coltsfoot, maple and fruit trees bloom. In summer, meadow herbs, raspberries, linden bloom. In the fall - chicory, heather, some late crops. Honey plant seeds, spreading by pollination to vast territories, give rise to the growth of new plants and an increase in the honey collection of nearby apiaries.
Let us briefly review the most effective crops. Here are the most popular honey plants grown in our country:
Buckwheat. An excellent honey plant, in some areas it is from her that bees bring almost all of the marketable honey. Belongs to cereal annual crops. Sown on fertile lands in several terms. Under favorable conditions, from 1 hectare of buckwheat, you can collect 70-100 kg of honey. Distributed mainly in the central regions of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Bashkiria. Buckwheat honey is dark in color (reddish tint), has a sharp pleasant smell. Compared to light varieties of honey, it has more protein and iron. Other honey plants are inferior to buckwheat in honey productivity.
Sunflower. One of the best honey plants. Nectar gives less buckwheat, but a large number of its crops allows you to get a good collection of honey. Refers to oilseed annual crops. Honey is light yellow, has a delicate taste and aroma. It crystallizes quickly, which can lead to the death of bees in combs, so it should be partially replaced in the hive with sugar.
Cotton. One of the most important technical cultures of Central Asia and the Caucasus. Honey from it has a white color and a pleasant delicate taste, crystallizes quickly, so it is undesirable to leave it for the winter in the hives.
Rape. Belongs to annual crops. It is winter and spring. Winter rape begins to bloom earlier than other honey plants (in May - June) and provides early honey collection. It blooms for about a month. Spring rape blooms in late June; its bloom lasts about 40 days. Honey obtained from rapeseed has a whitish-yellow color, crystallizes very quickly.
Mustard. An annual oilseed plant of great value in beekeeping. Grown in the Volga region, Kazakhstan and the southern Urals. Gives aromatic honey of a light yellow shade. Honey crystallizes quickly in honeycombs, so it is not suitable for bee wintering.
Melilot. It is not only a honey plant, but also a good fodder plant. Unpretentious, can grow on depleted or arid lands. in beekeeping the annual white clover is used. Honey of white color, high quality.
Clover red. Perennial forage crop (legume family). This is a field plant. It releases a large amount of nectar, but the honey collection from it is low. This is due to the fact that nectar is located in the depths of the tubes of its corollas and is difficult to access for bees.
Coriander. An annual plant cultivated in the center of Russia, in Ukraine, the Volga region. It happens spring and winter. Good honey collection due to sowing over large areas.
Alfalfa. Fodder bean plant, good honey plant. Distributed in Ukraine, the Volga region, Kazakhstan, Central Asia and the southern regions of Siberia.