Cheap flowers to attract bees

Hey guys I have just go a allotment and would like to a 9 inch or so bed round it with flowers that attract bees and other pollinating insects to help are bees out a bit can you recomed the best way to go about it just want to put a few seeds in and leave it and to be cheap if you know what I mean thanks guys

 

Nasturtiums are pretty cheap, just chuck em in. Seeds are quite large.

 

You could get a bag of wildflower seeds for about £10, there's plenty of websites that do this.

 

Last year on the allotment I grew borage plants and the bees loved them.They do get rather large though.

 

I agree with nFrost a cheap way is to get a bag of wildflowers as they love the wild and natural flowers.

Bees love single flowers like asters or daisies and are attracted to the smell of the Lavender and Oregano and also Thyme. Growing herbs means that you can also utilise them in the kitchen.

They also like bell-shaped flowers such as foxgloves and of course the cheapest flower of all the 'dandelion'.

It's worth considering asking friends if they have a dwarf buddelia and taking a cutting.

Which ever you decide on 'Good Luck'.

 

Best one for the allotment is the "poached egg plant"

Really easy to sow in open ground
http://www.sarahraven.com/shop/limnanthes.html

 

Any suggestions for early flowers for the bumblebees?

Every year, when I see the first bumble bee of the year, usually a new queen seeking a nest site, I always feel a bit sad, because nectar is scarce.

 

Also , in the 99p shop you can get a box of mixed seeds for Bee's , Butterflies' , they do work too

 

I'd be interested in knowing about early flowers too as again today I saw a bumblebee in the garden but there doesn't seem to be much around for it.

 

Cant go wrong with Forsythia and Ribes flowering currant but plant them in a sheltered part of the garden out of the wind and catches the morning sun , and one that attracts them in to my garden is Kojo no mai cherry and that started flowering over 3 weeks ago and attracts all the bumbles and I saw my 1st honey bee yesterday in my garden on the same flowers.

Spruce

 

There's many spring flowering plants and bulbs that bumblebees like e.g crocus, forget-me-not, helleborus, buttercups , lungwort and many more - I think they are also attracted to pansies and grape hyacinths. I'm sure Spuce is more knowledgeable on their preferences.

 

Hi GA
Not really with bumble bees but I appreciate it your kind words, I had lots of wasps questions last year as well and PM's about other insects I am no expert .
Anything single flowered is best.

Honey bees do have different tastes at time , my honey bees wont go by Comfrey flowers but bumbles love them.

Ps its Spruce not Spuce

 

Thanks Spruce.....think I'll get a Ribes and a Forsythia when I can.

 

I would have thought it best to avoid anything that self seeds freely (Foxgloves, Forget me Nots, many of the wildflowers) on an allotment. That said, I would consider Nasturtiums ok - the seeds are large (as previously pointed out) so will not spread too far, and they are great next to broad beans as they are caviare to black fly. I also seem to recall that French Marigold is a companion plant for Tomato, but can't remember why. Lavender next to lettuce is good for keeping the bunnies away.

Penstemon, Echinacea and hardy Fuchsia would be on my list.