Phacelia and its benefits as a honey plant

Annual melliferous phacelia is cultivated artificially in areas near apiaries. In the wild, this plant is extremely rare. Phacelia honey is valued as highly as linden honey.

The content of the article

  • 1 Significance in agriculture
    • 1.1 Phacelia honey plant description
  • 2 Phacelia as a honey plant when to sow
    • 2.1 Seed collection
  • 3 Honey productivity
  • 4 Human benefits

Significance in agriculture

Phacelia melliferous plant, planted both in the near-zone territories, and in disagreements. It is important in beekeeping to provide a supporting flow during those periods when other melliferous plants have not yet bloomed in nature.

Phacelia is resistant to some crop pests. Therefore, it is often planted near summer cottages, for example, near peas. Entomophages settle on the inflorescences of the honey plant, willingly destroying the larvae of pests.

After the honey harvest, the green part of the plant is plowed as a green fertilizer.

If you use mixed crops with other melliferous herbs, such as cereals or legumes, honey yield will increase markedly.

Species that are important in beekeeping:

  • tansy or mountain ash-leaved.

Phacelia honey plant description

structure of inflorescencesThe plant has a well-developed branched stem with a height of 30 to 60 centimeters. The placement of the leaves is alternate, the shape is oblong or ovoid, the structure is pinnately dissected. The flowers are distinguished by the correct shape, collected in small inflorescences, have a bluish-lilac color. The stamens in them beautifully protrude beyond the corolla.

After flowering, spikelets are formed. Dark brown wrinkled seeds, 2-3 millimeters in size, ripen in small capsules placed on spikelets.

The homeland of the honey plant is California. On the European continent, it is found only as an artificially cultivated plant.

Phacelia as a honey plant when to sow

As already noted, phacelia as a honey plant is grown by humans in areas suitable for this plant. Therefore, the question of how and when to sow it is crucial for the productivity of apiaries.

To get enough seeds, it is necessary to sow a small batch of melliferous plants at the same time as planting early spring crops.

For this, a suitable area is plowed or dug up. Harrowing is carried out immediately. Acceptable seed quality – second or third class. Consumption – kilogram per hectare of sown area. Planting depth – 2-3 centimeters.

Sowing in the aisles of orchards or berry fields with subsequent plowing in autumn for fertilization, as well as mixing with legumes or cereals is allowed. You can sow melliferous plants at several times – two to three times with an interval of one to two weeks.

Note: Phacelia is a green manure suitable for organic farming. It is used to saturate the soil with nitrogen, normalize soil conditions and control weeds. The stems do not need to be removed from the site! It is enough to dig them up in the fall, fertilizing the ground in this way.

Seed collection

bloom

The main thing in phacelia agrotechnics is to collect the seed on time. This presents some difficulty, since the grass blooms massively and for a long time. And the most complete seeds are obtained only from the first flowers.

Collection rules:

  • as soon as two-thirds of the seeds on the first flowers turn brown, the crops must be mown in the early morning after dew;
  • the stems are laid in rolls and dried for four to five days;
  • after which the honey plant is threshed;
  • seeds are cleaned of dry impurities, dried and sifted from dust;
  • permissible humidity for storage is not more than 12-14 percent.

Honey productivity

The grass begins to bloom one and a half months after sowing. Its duration directly depends on the weather and can range from 20 to 60 days. Abundant flowering. At the top of the stem, up to 70 small flowers are collected in a bunch, and on each lateral branch the inflorescences consist of an average of 40-50 flowering corollas.

медосбор

The honey plant is sensitive to dry winds! They significantly reduce the secretion of nectar. Heat speeds up flowering, while rains, on the contrary, delay it. But at the same time, the honey plant almost does not react to droughts and downpours – nectar is released steadily.

A characteristic feature is the phased flowering:

  • flowering lasts for 7-14 days;
  • vigorous flowering takes two to three weeks;
  • and for another 7-14 days, gradual flowering continues.

Bees willingly visit phacelia inflorescences during the day. Sometimes they can be seen on flowers even after sunset. The work of bees on phacelia is determined by the blue pollen (pollen) collected on the legs of insects.

Honey productivity per hectare – from 40 to 50 kilograms of marketable honey. When mixed with legumes or cereals, yields increase significantly – up to 150-300 kilograms.

The resulting honey can vary in color from completely white to light green. The aroma is delicate herbaceous.

After crystallization, the product resembles a plastic dough. Suitable as winter food for bee colonies.

Human benefits

Phacelia honey and pollen are extremely important for bee colonies. They replace other plants during non-tipping periods, ensuring the development of the young and building up the strength of the families. With the simultaneous flowering with early spring crops, the plant increases the productivity of apiaries.

honey

Phacelia honey plant beneficial properties:

  • the plant has a restorative effect on the human body due to the content of a whole vitamin and mineral complex in honey;
  • provides an antibacterial effect for colds, injuries and ulcers on the skin;
  • facilitates the removal of mucus from the lungs with bronchitis and other inflammatory processes;
  • help is provided in the removal of toxins and toxins, honey also acts as a mild diuretic;
  • in cosmetology, phacelia honey is used to narrow enlarged pores on the face, fight acne and blackheads.

Standard storage – away from direct sunlight, heat sources, in a dry and cool place. Honey is packed in glass containers, which prevents the product from absorbing extraneous odors.  

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Anna Evans

Author ✓ Farmer

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