|
|
Post by MikeH on Aug 30, 2013 14:50:01 GMT -5
Based only on descriptions of a top-bar hive keeper of my aquaintence, I wonder if they are adequate to colder sites needs. Mine have survived -25°C with a wind chill much colder. I don't wrap mine either. It's probable that healthy bees, ie, no chemicals in the hive and drawing natural cell sized comb and strong genetics are factors as well. |
|
|
|
Post by mnjrutherford on Sept 16, 2013 14:57:30 GMT -5
I concur with your assessment Mike. Though I am pondering the notion of planting trees near our hives to act as food sources, wind breaks, and shade.
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeH on Sept 16, 2013 19:54:50 GMT -5
I concur with your assessment Mike. Though I am pondering the notion of planting trees near our hives to act as food sources, wind breaks, and shade. Absolutely. The bigger the smorgasbord, the better off they (and wild pollinators & predatory insects) will be. You can search the USDA Plants Database for tree/shrub varieties native to your county and surrounding counties - plants.usda.gov/adv_search.html. The Lady Bird Johnson wildflower site - www.wildflower.org/plants/ allows you to search for plants native to your state for the entire growing season. With the increasing erratic weather that we are seeing designing in wind breaks and shade is a good idea. We've actually decided to plant black locusts at the ends of some of our raised beds to provide dappled shade, sort of a natural shade cloth. Since black locusts are nitrogen fixers, we don't have to be concerned about them competing for nitrogen. And we're not too concerned about roots since digging the beds will chop the roots that are growing in the bed so that the large roots will develop outside the beds. Black locusts grow fast so we'll do trimming each year to keep the canopy low enough. And the flowers are a bee magnet and have an incredible perfume scent to them. |
|
|
|
Post by mnjrutherford on Sept 17, 2013 11:56:43 GMT -5
I really REALLY want black locust but haven't been able to source. Got some suggestions?
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeH on Sept 17, 2013 14:51:06 GMT -5
I'd recommend seeds. Germination is good and growth is phenomenal. We have trees from seed that are 7' tall after 3 years since spring germination. We'll be harvesting seed from the same source that we got originally ours from - a mall parking lot - because we want to start some more trees. Email me your address and I can send you some.
|
|
|
|
Post by steev on Sept 17, 2013 17:31:51 GMT -5
Once your trees start producing seed, you'll have all the seedlings you can stand.
That reminds me, I must go gather seed from some Eastern Redbuds to stratify; I prefer their growth habit to that of the native Western Redbuds, less shrubby, more of a small tree; same value as a leguminous plant as the locusts, and what's not to like about an abundantly flowering tree?
|
|
|
|
Post by raymondo on Sept 18, 2013 16:37:07 GMT -5
Jo, if black locusts are as common in cultivation where you are as they are here you might find trees around from which you can collect seeds.
|
|
|
|
Post by mjc on Sept 18, 2013 17:45:00 GMT -5
I really REALLY want black locust but haven't been able to source. Got some suggestions? Seed? Let me check...I may have some, soon. |
|
|
|
Post by mnjrutherford on Sept 18, 2013 17:54:33 GMT -5
Cool! Thanks!
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeH on Sept 18, 2013 19:28:44 GMT -5
We harvested today if you want some.
|
|
|
|
Post by mnjrutherford on Sept 19, 2013 8:46:07 GMT -5
Black locust seed? YES! I'll PM you my address.
|
|
|
|
Post by farmermike on Jan 11, 2018 0:55:58 GMT -5
Sorry, I meant to add, that with 'swarm lures' the most important thing is to site your bait hive at the right height. Bees will rarely enter a hive close to the ground but they will be attracted to old comb in hives at around 4ft to 6ft above it. I usually stack old bee boxes to raise the height to around 4ft for the entrance. You can play around with various herbs if you like, but the easiest and best thing to use is some honey (from a clean source). Smear this over some old comb and the bees will soon find it. The way it works is that foraging bees from various remote hives will become acquainted with the existence of your hive, and when their hives start to swarm they will be heading there to inspect your hive as a potential new home. Their prior knowledge from taking honey there will give you a big advantage. I've used this method for around seven years and have caught swarms every single year. , you got me thinking about beekeeping now, and I found this old thread. I found this bit particularly interesting about luring swarms. Maybe I'll give it a try too this spring. I've also heard that lemongrass oil is supposed to help attract them. |
|
|
|
Post by reed on Jan 11, 2018 6:59:53 GMT -5
Ah, there is already a thread about top bar hives. Info I found said traps should be a little higher but I think like most things there are a lot of variables. Also read that a little lemon grass was good and propolis, which apparently is a special wax they use to seal up little cracks and gaps, will have to locate some.
One article said if you can cover the whole interior of the trap hive with the propolis and just a small bit of lemon grass, you will attract a swarm, we'll see.
|
|
