Market Farming

["Joe Kames" <farfish AT francomm.com>]

Allan,

Bees help, but it seems to me they can be distracted by the fields of clover
and monarda we have here. We rented before we started our own hives, that
might be a good way to start. We grow mostly tomatoes which do not require
insect pollination. I forwarded this question to some friends in our
Catskill Mountain Beekeepers Assoc. and will send any feedback I get.

                                              Joe


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Allan Balliett" <igg AT igg.com>
To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 08, 2004 9:49 AM
Subject: [Market-farming] Pollination and Fruit


> I wanted to ask you vegetable growers who keep bees if you ever have
> (much) trouble with underdeveloped fruit. For example, cucumbers that
> taper suddenly at the end or strawberries that are just little red
> buttons.
>
> I don't keep bees but there is plenty of insect activity on blossoms
> in our patch. On the other hand, I get way too many cukes that are
> not fully filled out and way too many strawberries that are 'hard to
> eat.'
>
> Someone told me that the weather has as much to do with this as
> anything (pollinators take cloudy days off), so, before I run out and
> buy a dozen hives, I wanted to find out if your hives solve problems
> like I mention.
>
> Thanks
>
> Allan Balliett
> _______________________________________________
> Market-farming mailing list
> Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming
>
> Get the list FAQ at: http://www.marketfarming.net/mflistfaq.htm
>
>