Clover Question?

[nao57]

So... I do beekeeping. I love it! But this came from a natural extension of learning gardening first. I believe people doing 'DIY' projects naturally just gardening is a good growth area to branch into as you learn to take care of yourself and take care of a family. Then when you start to have a few years in gardening you realize... hey, it doesn't cost me very much time to feed chickens or rabbits or whatever. And you start to think I could do more without costing myself very much time.

That's what led me into learning about bees and ducks and chickens.

That then made me want to research honey producing plants.

In so doing, I wondered about these structures that clover blooms evolve into. After the bloom on a clover plant ages, it seems to turn into what looks like a natural cottonball. See attached pics for reference. I wanted to ask what those structures are for? What can they be used for? They must be good for something??

I don't know what they can be used for. But my observations in nature and the natural world of animals and plants, that there is order and structure where every plant or animal serves a function. Everything does... something. So its just a matter of figuring out what it does.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Seed heads, mow them, they make good compost.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Also if you mow them you will get a fresh lot of flowers for the bees.

 

[DirtMechanic]

I would suggest the idea of a seed drop covered by compost. Take a fruit for example. A tomato will hit the ground full of seed also covered by the moisture and nutrients and compost of the fruit. Natures little seed bombs in effect.

 

[nao57]

Thanks for both of your thoughts.

Any idea how soon clover will regrow the blooms when you mow the heads?

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Thanks for both of your thoughts.

Any idea how soon clover will regrow the blooms when you mow the heads?

TBH it is something I have never thought about, but pretty soon. I reckon you will see it white again within a couple of weeks at the most. I guess the weather may well play a part as well, all rain or all sun is going to slow them down, rain followed by sun and they shoot up.

 

[nao57]

TBH it is something I have never thought about, but pretty soon. I reckon you will see it white again within a couple of weeks at the most. I guess the weather may well play a part as well, all rain or all sun is going to slow them down, rain followed by sun and they shoot up.

Thanks for the reply everyone.