Peanut
Self-pollinating peanut gives bees little nectar or pollen and is not a honey source. Large fields offer minor summer support; spraying is the main risk.
- Nectar
- Low
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0,3-0,5 m
- Life cycle
- Annual
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Peanut is a legume that largely pollinates itself, often even before the flower opens. Its yellow-orange pea flowers give small amounts of nectar and pollen; honeybee visits are irregular and the plant is not regarded as a honey source. Bumblebees and wild bees are seen on the flowers more often.
Flowering
It starts flowering 4-6 weeks after sowing and continues for weeks between June and August. The flowers open early in the morning and wilt during the day. After fertilisation the flower stalk lengthens and pushes into the soil, where the pod develops underground.
Honey and pollen
No monofloral peanut honey is produced. Its contribution is lost in mixed honey together with the surrounding weeds and other summer plants. The amount of pollen is also too small to meet the colonies' needs.
Note for the beekeeper
In Turkey it is grown on large areas around Osmaniye, Adana and Aydın. These fields alone are no reason to set up an apiary; without other summer forage nearby the colonies weaken. Stay alert to insecticide treatments in the fields.