Honey Bee Pasture Seed Blend

[Michael Jaross]

A Seed Blend for Pacific Northwest Pollinators

Mt. Baker Beekeepers Association Presents: “Pacific NW Honey Bee Pasture Blend,” a custom seed blend for Pacific Northwest pollinator insects which, of course, includes our favorite pollinators, honeybees !

1 oz. Packet: $3 covers 100 sq. ft 1 lb. Bag: $15 covers 1,000 sq. ft.

Excellent prices on larger quantities up to 50 lb. bags, please inquire: [e-mail]  or 676-9214

Our Pacific Northwest Honey Bee Pasture seed blend is designed to meet the needs of professional beekeepers,hobbyists and all gardeners throughout the moist, temperate climate of western Washington.  This clover-heavy blend contains a large percentage of legumes as well as wildflower species preferred by the honey bee and other beneficial pollinators. This blend is designed to provide maximum nectar and pollen amounts throughout the growing season. It contains both perennial and self-seeding annual species for multi-year productivity, and can also be used as a green-manure cover crop.

Not recommended for pasture available to horses as it contains Alsike Clover which presents problems for horses.  Excellent for pollinators, but not horses.

The specific contents of this honey bee pasture blend are:

40% Alsike Clover (Trifolium hybridum)

20% White Dutch Clover (Trifolium repens)

20% Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus officinalis)

10% Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) Historically an important fodder crop for draft horses.

5% Lacy Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia)

5% Bluebells (Phacelia campanularia)”

Help restore bee forage plantings in Whatcom County. Honeybees and other pollinating insects maintain nutritional health through season-long availability of a wide variety of nectar and pollen bearing plants. These provide rich sources of nectar (carbohydrate) and a balanced sour Pacific Northwest Honey Bee Pasture ce of amino acids (protein). A variety of pollinator-friendly flowers in hedgerows and crop margins is decreasing dramatically in many areas due to large scale mono-crop agriculture, commercial and residential development. This seed blend is a small start towards restoring healthy pollinator forage in our area.

Contact Mt. Baker Beekeepers Assn.: [e-mail] or 676-9214

[Sharon Robinson]

I would be interested in growing this mixture, but the space I have available is fairly shady and under a gigantic big leaf maple tree.  Do you know if it would grow well in that environment?

[Michael Jaross]

Hi Sharon,

I have the Bee Pasture mix planted both in full sun and under leafed-out fruit trees.  The earliest planting was under my apple and pear trees and the Phacelia is blooming now, clovers on the way.  The only difference between shaded and sunny areas that I've noticed is the Phacelia is a bit leggier in the shade.  Growth might be somewhat attenuated if it's really dark under the Maple, but probably still worth the try. 

Bees go to Maples early in the spring, so forage plants blooming later in the season at the same location would probably be well attended.

Something in the mix began to germinate in less than a week in the most recent plantings, though these were in warmed up soil in full sun.  May take a few days longer in the shade.