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Author Topic: I need advice on plantings for a bee farm in SW Florida  (Read 5913 times)

Offline jredburn

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I need advice on plantings for a bee farm in SW Florida
« on: November 01, 2012, 08:53:27 pm »
I have just received written permission to keep as many bees as I want to on 300+ acres in SW Florida.  The soil is sandy and covered with pasture grass and weeds.  A lot of the area is covered with  palm trees and  Palmetto bushes.
I intend to open a community bee yard where anyone can keep a hive.  I am scheduling classes and field trips for people that are living in residential areas.
I need advise on what to plant so the bees will have pollen and nector all year round.  We don't have much of a winter here in zone 10a.  Once every few years it gets down to freezing at night.
I have a couple of thousand acres of pasture land around the site but no farm land so I need seeds that I can broadcast.  Planting by hand or machine is out of the question.
I know very little about this so any words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated.
It has been suggested to me that I also start a community garden area where people can rent a space and raise a garden in it.  Thoughts and comments on this will also be welcome.
Regards
Joe

Offline AllenF

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Re: I need advice on plantings for a bee farm in SW Florida
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2012, 09:05:32 pm »
You got a good tractor?    Year round crops would require lots of different plants.   Lot at what blooms near you and plant that.   Let the pastures grow wild and you will get plenty of plants naturally.   

Offline Maryland Beekeeper

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Re: I need advice on plantings for a bee farm in SW Florida
« Reply #2 on: November 02, 2012, 08:04:23 pm »
You should try a Manuka bush. Also tretradium danielli, might be to hot for that
Cheers,
Drew

Offline MrILoveTheAnts

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Re: I need advice on plantings for a bee farm in SW Florida
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2012, 03:22:05 am »
Some Florida Native plants that should be beneficial to the environment:
Beach Sunflower, Helianthus debilis
Blanket Flower, Gaillardia pulchella
Calamint, Calamintha georgiana
Frostweed, Verbesina virginica
Giant Ironweed, Vernonia angustifolia
Goldenrod, Salidago fistulosa and Solidago sempervirens
Tropical Milkweed, Asclepias curassavica
Rosinweed, Silphium asteriscus
Sea Ox-Eye Daisy, Borrichia frutescens
Spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis
Tickseed, Coreopsis leavenworthii

Also I like the idea of a community garden.

Offline Joe D

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Re: I need advice on plantings for a bee farm in SW Florida
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2012, 05:38:52 pm »
One thing that most land owners try to get rid of until they have bees is wild or privy hedge, and posion shomake, both are good for honey production.  I have planted appr. 25 acres of crimson clover,back when I had cows.  The bees only get pollen but they work it pretty good, it comes in before the hedge but there are other things that come in even earlier.  Don't know what all will and times for what will grow in your area.  Good luck to you and your bees.



Joe

Offline jayj200

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Re: I need advice on plantings for a bee farm in SW Florida
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2014, 09:53:09 am »
just plant the trees and shrubs one can get fruits and vegetables from

looking around here the gov has ruled against food many times

Offline jayj200

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Re: I need advice on plantings for a bee farm in SW Florida
« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2015, 04:53:09 pm »
national arbor day comes to mind as a start

Offline mikecva

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Re: I need advice on plantings for a bee farm in SW Florida
« Reply #7 on: January 03, 2015, 05:31:38 pm »
Sad but true around here but you may want to consider letting all of your gardeners know that their plants will be pollinated by the bee 'farm' so if they have allergies they will have been forewarned and not hold you responsible.  Good Luck, they both sound like good ideas,  -Mike
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