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How to attract bees into polytunnel

Chris BettsChris Betts Posts: 2
in Wildlife gardening
We'd like to attract bees (or other pollinators) into our polytunnel, which is opened at both ends on warm days. Any suggestions as to what we might plant in there?

Posts

  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 21,908

    Somthing small that won't get in the way of other plants is thyme. Bees just love the flowers.

    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • Busy Bee2Busy Bee2 Posts: 1,005

    Get a hive.  Well I would say that, wouldn't I...!

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,053

    calendula is easy from seed and the bees love it

    Devon.
  • quercus_ruburquercus_rubur Posts: 334

    Allium sphaerocephalon. The bees adore them! I tend to plant to attract bees but these are the bees knees! 

  • Chris BettsChris Betts Posts: 2

    Wow, quercus rubur! They look dramatic! Never heard of them. RHS site says plant in full sun. Do you think they'd be OK in the tunnel? Also they grow quite tall - how much space would they need? Might grow them outside anyway - our bees obviously need all the help they can get!

  • nikki 7nikki 7 Posts: 96

    How's about a lavender plant in a pot?  Also echinops - which the bees adore!  I have some in my garden & the echinops flowers are constantly covered in bees.  Either plants could be grown in pots & put in the tunnel to attract bees during the summer season

  • quercus_ruburquercus_rubur Posts: 334

    Hmm Chris hadn't thought about the full sun aspect. As they're quite cheap it'd be worth trying a few. How about planting some just outside the tunnel?

    image

     

    They grow about 2 ft tall. Here's a photo I took last year

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