>A neighbor of mine down the road has asked if I would place a few hives at her 2 acre squash field. It will be pesticide free, and is bordered by some fallow fields and forest, with other small farms in the area. I can get a price in keeping with the state average. My question is, how are squash blossoms as a source of nectar for honey? I read conflicting reports on the net.
I haven't any experience with trying get nectar from them. I've had squash in garden when I had bees and the bees seemed to pollinate them.
> Will they also forage the nearby fields and forests if they're short of nectar?
They will forage the surrounding 8,000 acres regardless. What kind of forests? Mixed hardwood forests usually provide quite a bit of nectar. Especially if you have locusts, basswoods, gums, tuplip poplar etc.
Pine forests don't provide much except from the weeds and undergrowth.