Hozelock has announced a partnership with Blooms for Bees, a citizen science project that promotes gardening to encourage bees.

The aim of this community science project is to discover how foliar feeding may increase floral abundance, nectar and pollen quantity and quality and, most importantly, bee visitation rates. Tubs, hanging baskets and window boxes are ideal ways to introduce flowers into the garden. The trial will determine the most effective way to keep pots and baskets blooming throughout the summer and this help bees in the garden.

In a planned trial, nasturtium seeds will be sown on three plots. One plot will be foliar fed weekly with water only, the second with comfrey tea and the third with seaweed feed.

The data collection will take place weekly between 8 June and 13 July to assess the health and growth of plants. The presence of pests, diseases and symptoms will also be assessed, as well as the number of open flowers.