Dog Fennel???

[Intheswamp]

It seems that there are some fallow fields close by that have lots of dog fennel growing in them.  I've read that this can produce a bitter honey.  I've also read that bees won't work it unless it's a last resort for them...if other things are available they will work those things rather than the dog fennel.

I'm not sure of the bloom dates of df, but I've read that it blooms from June through November.  My hope is that it will not start blooming until after the spring honey is taken off and maybe an early harvest of the summer honey.  This would leave the dog fennel for the bees to use for their stores over the winter.

It looks to be one of those imported niceties from Europe that has found a home in the south/southeast.  :-x

Has anyone had any experience with it?  Suggestions?

Thanks,
Ed

[AllenF]

I wouldn't worry about it one bit.    Even if you have a 100 acre field of it near you, it is just a drop in the bucket of the honey that bees collect from.   

[Intheswamp]

Thanks Allen.  It seemed that other than privet hedge that's the most obviously abundant forage for them around here.  I'm sure there's other forage and probably some in larger quantities.  As abundant as df is in the south I was hoping it was a non-issue.  Thanks for the assurance.

Ed

[bud1]

i don't know about dog fennel; but we have bitter weed and just a little bit will ruin a bucket full of honey

[Intheswamp]

i don't know about dog fennel; but we have bitter weed and just a little bit will ruin a bucket full of honey

bud1, if you have bitterweed over there I feel that we have it over here, also.  How often do you encounter this?  Is it a regular occurrence?  Do you harvest before the bitterweed blooms?  Seems I read in an old book that in Florence, AL that they harvested by the first of July to dodge the bitterweed... ??

Thanks for the information,
Ed

ETA: Old book was Gleanings in Bee Culture, Jan 1, 1906