The Project Apis m. seed mixes available to Seeds for Bees enrollees and for purchase are designed to bloom at critical times of the year when natural forage is scarce. Seeds for Bees encourages the use of cover crops to increase the density, diversity, and duration of bee forage in California working lands while improving soil health and crop production.
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PAm Pollinator Brassica Mix
This mix is the authority in the cover cropping in California’s Central Valley. The reason why is clear: it's economical, it has a high probability of success in the toughest conditions, it’s low input, and it’s a multi-benefit powerhouse for the grower. This tried-and-true combination is our most drought-tolerant mix, at times yielding 5 feet or taller stands on only 3 inches of water. Pollinator Brassica breaks up compacted ground, allowing for excellent water penetration in even the toughest soils. It occupies the landscape with abundant, brassy-yellow floral resources and provides powerful support for soil health. It's only annual brassicas: mustard, canola, and daikon that bloom at different times to provide extra forage density, diversity, and duration for your worker honey bees, giving growers more confidence with their pollination investment than ever before. Click here for PAm Pollinator Brassica Mix details and planting instructions |
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PAm Annual Clover Mix
If erosion control and increased nitrogen are desired, the PAm Clover Mix will do the job. This mix will begin blooming in February/March. Recent research suggests that a successful stand of this legume mix may fix about 80 lbs. of nitrogen per acre. The delicate, brittle nature of clovers makes it a good choice to encourage reseeding. Annual reseeding clovers will not become a weed issue. Click here for PAm Clover Mix details and planting instructions |
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PAm Bio Build3 Mix (Limited Availability)
There is power in 3s, and Project Apis m. has engineered this mix with three annual families of seed in mind: brassica, legume, and grass. This mix also accomplishes 3 things in your soil: it builds biomass, biological activity, and biodiversity. Like all PAm mixes, it is an excellent pollinator mix and provides the grower added confidence for bee productivity during commercial crop blooms. Because of its low- to-moderate need for water to grow and sustain that growth, and its moderate price point coupled with its need for a high seeding rate, PAm reserves this for growers with high irrigation distribution uniformity and is only for growers who have access to the highly efficient no-till seeding drill. BioBuild3 supports bees, trees, and your soil expertise. Click here for PAm Bio Build3 details and planting instructions |
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Vetch-Grain Mix
Vetch, another legume, blooms later than all the other Seeds for Bees options. Its fine root hairs are excellent at stabilizing the soil surface and preventing erosion. Recent research suggests that a successful stand may fix more than 100 lbs. of nitrogen per acre. The “vine like” growing habit of this species allows it to work well when blended with small grains like triticale. Vetch should not be broadcasted in young orchards as it may grow up the tree trunks or irrigation systems. It is not recommended to allow this species to reseed inside an orchard. Click here for Vetch-Grain details and planting instructions |
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PAm Wildflower Mix
A wildflower mix will add a pleasing aesthetic to any farm, orchard, backyard, or apiary. This diverse mix of flowers will ensure months of colorful blossoms that will please any nearby bees. While well suited to hot and dry climates like California summers this mix is not ideal for planting inside orchards. We recommend using the PAm Pollinator Brassica Mix, PAm Clover Mix, or PAm Vetch-Grain if maximizing soil and bee health benefits are a priority. Click here for PAm Wildflower Mix details and planting instructions |