Ginger as a melliferous plant is a herbaceous annual oil plant of the cabbage family. It is a good spring and summer honey plant. In some regions, it covers a free period.
The content of the article
- 1 Distribution and Description
- 1.1 Varieties
- 2 Significance in agriculture
- 3 Agrotechnics
- 4 Honey productivity
Distribution and Description
It can be found in the wild among weed plants in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of the European and Asian parts of Russia, in Ukraine and in Europe.
In the middle of the 19th century, on the territory of Russia and France, the plant first began to grow as a cultivated plant. In the 50s of the last century, the maximum cultivation of the winter variety was noted on the agricultural areas of the countries of the Soviet Union. But in the second half of the 20th century, a decline was recorded in the cultivation of culture and for a while it was undeservedly forgotten.
Nowadays, an unpretentious oilseed crop has been re-grown in arid Russian and Ukrainian regions.
This is a short plant with a thin, erect, slightly pubescent green stem, covered with a few sessile small green heart-shaped leaves.
Small pale yellow flowers are grouped in terminal small tassels located on the branched top. The fruit is pear-shaped pods with numerous very small seeds.
Varieties
About eight types of culture grow on the territory of Russia. In the European part, flax and small-fruited camelina can be found in the wild. Sowing and winter crops are grown in the fields as a cultivated oilseed plant.
Significance in agriculture
Unlike other cruciferous crops, the plant tolerates persistent frosts and drought-resistant weather. In fact, it is not damaged by pests and various fungal diseases.
Small seeds ripen in a short time and do not crumble before harvesting. Due to its adaptive qualities, the culture does not need protective and stimulating chemical treatment. That cannot but please the beekeepers.
Basically, the plant is grown for the seeds from which camelina oil is made. And green mass is used as a technical raw material for the production of second generation biofuel.
Herbal tinctures and decoctions are used in traditional medicine for the preventive treatment of cancer.
Almost all species of this crop are good melliferous plants!
Agrotechnics
This is an early maturing oilseed crop that does not require special care. For sowing, black earth, light sandy loam and even podzolized soil will go. But on clay or acidic soil, the plant will develop poorly.
Before sowing in late autumn (around the end of September or the beginning of October), all weeds are removed, after which they must level the ground and accumulate moisture to ensure good germination.
The crop is very sensitive to fertilizers! Therefore, it is recommended to add only their mineral types.
Grass is sown in the spring at the same time as continuous grain rows, with a row spacing of 15-20 centimeters. After that, the square is rolled with rollers.
Before the emergence of seedlings, it is necessary to harrow in a short time to avoid drying out and compaction of the soil.
Harvest with grain combines in dry, sunny weather. Early harvesting of this crop is not recommended, since small seeds are poorly threshed and remain in unripe pods.
Honey productivity
The winter honey plant blooms in May and blooms until mid-June. And the sowing season – in August, and blooms in September. Bees very actively visit the smelling inflorescences of camelina, collecting massive amounts of nectar and pollen.
Up to 30 kilograms of sugar in nectar is harvested from one hectare of dense plantings. Other information in beekeeping guides about the honey productivity of this plant by the team . not found.
Honey from camelina has a dark hue, somewhat reminiscent of buckwheat in color, has an unpleasant sharp aroma and a peculiar, but pleasant taste. Crystallizes quickly.
This is a very rare type of honey product. It is not recommended to mix it with other varieties, as camelina nectar changes their taste and presentation.
It is best to take individual strong families to flowering camelina fields to obtain a monofloral marketable product. You need to download such honey right away!
