Onion
A vegetable whose seed production needs insect pollination; its potassium-rich nectar is less attractive to bees than many competing flowers.
- Nectar
- Medium
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0,8-1,2 m
- Life cycle
- Biennial
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In its second year onion produces globe-shaped flower heads made up of hundreds of small white flowers. The flowers give both nectar and pollen, and seed production depends almost entirely on insect pollination. The high potassium content of the nectar can make bees leave the field when sources such as alfalfa or sunflower are nearby; varieties differ greatly in attractiveness.
Flowering
In seed fields it flowers from June to July; one head stays in flower for 2-4 weeks.
Honey and pollen
Freshly gathered nectar gives off a distinct onion smell in the hive; this smell largely disappears as the honey ripens. It is not known as a commercial single-flower honey.
Note for the beekeeper
For seed pollination, bringing several strong colonies per hectare at a time when competing flowers are few, and spreading the colonies within the field, increases yield.