Citrus
A strong early-spring flow on Mediterranean coasts giving very pale, intensely floral citrus honey; spraying during bloom is the main danger.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Crystallisation
- Medium
- Height
- 3-10 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Citrus trees (orange, mandarin, lemon, grapefruit) are fruit trees that give plenty of fragrant nectar in early spring. Orange groves in particular provide a strong flow on mild, humid, windless days. In Turkey the main areas are Mersin, Adana, Hatay and Antalya.
Flowering
Flowering runs from late March to May and lasts 3-5 weeks depending on species and variety; lemon can flower several times a year.
Honey and pollen
Citrus (orange blossom) honey is very pale yellow, with a distinct floral scent and very aromatic; it crystallises at a moderate rate with a fine grain. Pollen is collected in moderate amounts.
Note for the beekeeper
The biggest danger is spraying: insecticide treatments during flowering can cause mass bee poisoning. Make arrangements with grove owners in advance and ask for spraying to be done in the evening with products of low toxicity to bees. Growers of seedless mandarins may not want bees brought into the grove, because cross-pollination produces seeds in the fruit.