Radish Pollination

Recommendations

• We recommend 8 or more bumblebee hives per hectare when used in combination with honeybees. Ideally space the bumblebee hives evenly throughout the crop, but keep them as far away from the honeybee hives as possible.

The Biology of Radish

Research in NZ across 4 sites showed that honeybees were only achieving 50% of the potential seed crop in radish. It has been estimated that 6.5 honeybees per 1000 flowers are required for full pollination however over time the bee numbers drop due to competition with other flowers. Radish does not appear to be very attractive to honeybees.