Turnip
The species of turnip, Chinese cabbage and turnip rape; flowering fields yield nectar and pollen much like oilseed rape and boost spring build-up.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Good
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Pollen colour
- Height
- 0.3-1 m
- Life cycle
- Biennial
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Brassica rapa is a species that includes very different cultivated forms such as turnip, Chinese cabbage and turnip rape (summer oilseed rape). What matters for the beekeeper are the fields left to flower for seed or oil. The bright yellow flowers give plenty of nectar and pollen, much like oilseed rape (Brassica napus); on humid spring days above 15 °C secretion is strong.
Flowering
Autumn-sown crops flower for 3-4 weeks from April to May, usually a little earlier than oilseed rape. In northern Europe spring-sown crops flower in June.
Honey and pollen
Its honey is not marketed separately from rape honey; it is light-coloured and, because of its high glucose content, crystallises very quickly and finely. It should be extracted before it sets in the super combs. The pollen loads are yellow.
Note for the beekeeper
Seed turnip and turnip rape fields are valuable for early-spring migration. Sprays against flea beetles and gall midges may coincide with flowering; communication with the landowner is important.