Lavender as a honey plant

Lavender honey plant, which is a shrub from the family Labiatae. Due to its unique aroma, it is more appreciated as an essential oil plant. In terms of honey productivity, it is in no way inferior to other summer honey plants.

The content of the article

  • 1 Distribution and Description
    • 1.1 Types
    • 1.2 Significance for agriculture
  • 2 Agrotechnics
  • 3 Honey productivity
  • 4 Useful Properties

Distribution and Description

Lavender fields in Provence

It is a heat-loving shrub that cannot stand strong and prolonged frosts. Therefore, it is cultivated in the Caucasus, the Crimean Peninsula, the Kuban, and in Moldova. It is massively grown in Provence – for French beekeepers, this honey plant is the basis of the fodder base in the summer.

In appearance, lavender is more like a shrub, since it does not have a central stem. The bush itself is assembled from numerous leafy shoots 60-80 centimeters high.

Its fragrant flowers are light blue or light purple. They are collected in straight, not very dense, but long (up to 15 cm) inflorescences. The lanceolate leaves of the plant are pubescent, small, have a bluish or grayish tint.

Types

A total of 47 types of lavender are known.

But beekeepers are only interested in one of them – ordinary lavender (narrow-leaved). It is this species that is grown en masse on plantations in our climatic conditions.

Significance for agriculture

collected twigs

The shrub is primarily grown to make the popular essential lavender oil. It is also valued as a medicinal plant – many medical recipes are not complete without this component.

The lavender scent is not tolerated by insect pests, so plant sprigs are often placed between items in closets to protect against moths.

Recently, it has become popular to use lavender oil for home aromatherapy sessions. Its smell helps to get rid of negativity, tearfulness, hysteria, and is great for relaxation.

In places of mass growth of half-shrub, beekeepers try to transport their nomadic apiaries to them.

Agrotechnics

You can breed a honey plant by seeds, dividing bushes or cuttings.

The shrub can be planted in autumn (September-October) or in early spring. Before planting, the land is plowed, weeds are removed. All subsequent steps are carried out as in preparation for planting a vineyard.

Remember! A properly prepared and planted plantation can grow in one place for up to 15 years.

 

For planting, it is preferable to choose dry or even rocky soil. The shrub does not tolerate stagnant water and high groundwater levels! Its roots begin to ache, rot.

The honey plant is planted in rows, leaving an aisle of 80-90 centimeters between the plants.

Honey productivity

nectar productivity of lavender

The flowering period depends on the location and climatic conditions. In some regions it is June-July, in others – the end of June, August. Duration of nectar excretion is about 40 days.

One hectare of plantations provides the apiary with up to 200 kilograms of honey. A strong bee colony can bring about 40 kilograms of nectar over the entire flowering period.

Also, bees massively collect bluish pollen.

Lavender honey is recognized as a valuable premium grade. It looks transparent, light. Possesses a delicate pleasant taste and aroma. Does not crystallize for a long time.

Useful Properties

In addition to its excellent taste, lavender honey is popularly appreciated as an irreplaceable antiseptic, anabolic, diaphoretic.

It can be applied:

  • with nervous disorders;
  • in case of disruption of the stomach and intestines;
  • with rheumatism;
  • with headaches;
  • with colds.

Doctors recommend using this variety for asthmatics, as well as people who have a tendency to chronic bronchitis and pneumonia.  

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Anna Evans

Author ✓ Farmer

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