Page 5 - Bumblebee Conservation Trust Buzzword magazine winter 2020

Snapdragons (Antirrhinum species)
SNAPDRAGONS (Antirrhinum species)
can also be sown directly into the
ground during autumn and winter,
although if you have the benefit
of a cold frame, greenhouse, or
propagator, nursing them through the
early stages of life before planting
them out in spring will give better
results. Sweet peas (Lathyrus
odoratus) are another bumblebee
favourite that can be grown on in small
pots on a bright windowsill, ready for
Bee-friendly gardening in winter planting out when the weather gets
warmer and the days get lighter again
in spring.
If you just can’t wait until spring to get sowing and planting more bee-friendly
blooms, we’ve got a few suggestions you can try this winter. There are a few
excellent bee-friendly plants that can be started off early at this time of year, some of
which actually do better with a blast of cold weather. A heated propagator or a cold
frame (if you have either) can be very useful, but even a warm and bright window sill
can help. Looking for something bigger?

If you’ve got a bare patch of earth that Fruit canes, bushes, trees and lots of different flowering
BUGLE (Ajuga reptans) bumblebee super-plant for you. It exactly what they sound like – the roots of a plant
shrubs tend to be cheaply available as bare root
could do with some low-maintenance
cover, Bugle (Ajuga reptans) is the
stocks at this time of year. Bare root plants are
sold without soil, during its dormant life phase. It’s best to give them
quickly spreads to fill up bare ground
a good soak and get them in the ground as soon as they’re delivered
and produces spikes of purple flowers
or brought home. It is always worth remembering to consider the space that fully
from April to June. Bugle is a big hit
with bumblebees and does well in
mature trees and shrubs will need before planting. However, winter can also be a
damp and partially shady spots. Sow
seeds in trays this winter, keeping
the compost moist and the seeds will YELLOW RATTLE (Rhinanthus minor) good time to transplant any that could do with re-positioning.
sprout sporadically over the coming weeks. Yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor) Top tip
Then when they are large enough they or the ‘Meadow maker’ as it
can be potted into individual pots ready for is nicknamed is an essential If you are wondering if a plant
planting out in position in spring. is any good for bumblebees,
component of a mini meadow
or wildflower strip. It loves a try typing the name into our
bit of cold weather to help it Bee kind tool (www.beekind.
germinate and can be sown directly bumblebeeconservation.org) to see
into the ground any time before spring if it is on the list. Our database now
so long as it is exposed to some frost. has over 700 bee-friendly plants
To find out more about the wonders of and contains the majority of plants
yellow rattle, see page 6. favoured by bumblebees. Above: a cold frame is ideal for
bringing bee-friendly plants along
Photos: Left: Bugle (Ajuga reptans);
4 4 Top: Yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor) 5