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Rapeseed
Brassica napus · Brassicaceae
CropMonofloral honey
Major crop giving abundant spring nectar and pollen over large fields and a pale monofloral honey that granulates very quickly.
- Nectar
- Very good
- Pollen
- Good
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Honey yield
- 50–150 kg/ha
- Crystallisation
- Fast
- Pollen colour
- Height
- 1-1,5 m
- Life cycle
- Annual
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Winter rapeseed gives one of the biggest spring flows in Europe and in Thrace. The nectar is rich in glucose, and the pollen is abundant and nutritious; it lets colonies grow quickly. Secretion is highest when the soil is moist and the air is above 18 °C; it drops on cold, windy days.
Flowering
Autumn-sown crops flower for 3-4 weeks in April-May, spring-sown crops in June-July. The usual yield range is given as 50-150 kg of honey per hectare.
Honey and pollen
Rapeseed honey is almost white, mild and low in aroma; because of its high glucose content it sets with a fine grain within a few days. Pollen loads are yellow.
Note for the beekeeper
- Extract the honey before it sets in the frames, as soon as it is capped or the flow ends; honey left too long cannot be taken out of the comb.
- It is well suited to making creamed honey.
- Insecticide sprays during flowering cause serious losses; agree spraying times with the farmer in advance.
- A strong flow increases the urge to swarm, so add supers and carry out swarm control early.