Flowers to attract bumblebees

[tovfla]

I'm not sure if all the bumblebees in Florida are gone, but I definitely don't see any around my vegetable garden. Honeybees come around constantly, but not a single bumblebee is around to pollinate my tomato plants, so I've resorted to using an electric toothbrush.

I'll be planting a French marigold mix to combat nematodes, but is there anything in particular that I can plant to attract bumblebees that would do well in Miami's humid and hot climate?

[Juliuskitty]

I'm not sure if all the bumblebees in Florida are gone, but I definitely don't see any around my vegetable garden. Honeybees come around constantly, but not a single bumblebee is around to pollinate my tomato plants, so I've resorted to using an electric toothbrush.

I'll be planting a French marigold mix to combat nematodes, but is there anything in particular that I can plant to attract bumblebees that would do well in Miami's humid and hot climate?

That electric toothbrush is going to do a great job. And it's fun!
The type of bees that do most of the cross pollination on tomatoes are hallictid bees, or also called sweat bees. They are very small and sort of look like a fly. Although they cause cross pollinations, most tomatoes will normally self pollinate. There are lots of them in Florida.

[imafan26]

I think bumble bees are attracted more to certain types of flowers. They seem to like the purple and blue flowers the most but they will also visit sunflowers. If you really want to attract bumble bees consider planting their favorite flowers and creating habitat for them like an artificial beehive in an out of the way shady spot.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/t ... ees1.shtml
https://www.bumblebee.org/nestboxes.htm

[rainbowgardener]

this is just a +1 to marlingardener (good to see you back, mg! you haven't been around as much lately). The people that need to do the electric toothbrush routine are the ones growing tomatoes in greenhouses, without natural breezes. But even there, you can accomplish the same thing just by shaking the plant gently every once in awhile. In natural conditions, they are self pollinating.

It's nice that you have honeybees and they will definitely do your pollinating for you, for plants that need pollinators.

Here's a nice little article about bumblebees and plants they like:

https://www.bumblebee.org/helpbees.htm

[jbest123]

This looks like an interesting Bumblebee house and easy to make and hide if desired.

BB by tsebmj, on Flickr

[tovfla]

Thanks everyone. Even at this time of year after temperatures are starting to come down, if I don't use an electric toothbrush most of the blossoms fall off. It's probably because of the high humidity. Lots of great articles to read through, thank you