What You Need To Know About When Beekeeping Season Starts

While there is an annual pattern to the life of a colony of bees, people can start beekeeping at any point in the year.

While it is usual to associate the start of the beekeeping season in temperate climates with springtime when the population of bees in the hive starts to build up, fall is actually the best time for a new beekeeper to start.

The first thing to do is join a local bee club and start learning about what is involved. Courses for beginners are often scheduled for the winter months so that they can be ready to start in the spring.

Spring is When Things Start Happening in the Hive

The number of bees in the hive will have declined rapidly at the start of winter and the colony has to survive on its stores of honey. The behavior of the bees is driven by the temperature, so a mild winter could cause problems as more young bees are hatched before there is enough food to forage for. Conversely, a long harsh winter can also cause problems.

However, in the northern hemisphere, the period between October and March is generally regarded as the off-season, and a time when beekeepers do not inspect their hives. At some stage in March, and on a mild day, the beekeeper will want to inspect the hive to check how the bees are and if any intervention is required.

One of the things that you need to look for is a brood so you can be sure the queen is laying. You are also checking how much food there is in the hive. It is recommended that you feed the hive with sugar syrup if you are concerned.

There are two reasons for this:

1. The more food in the hive, the stronger the larvae will be
2. It is hard to assess how much food will be available outside the hive, so it is better to be safe than sorry.

Timescales

It takes 21 days for a worker bee to emerge from the cell after the egg is laid. Eggs hatch after three days and the cell is sealed five days after that so that the worker bee can develop. In winter, the worker bee lives for around six months. In the summer, just 36 days.

While each hive is subject to fluctuations, the queen usually stops laying eggs at the end of September and starts again in early January. By the end of March, the queen is laying thousands of eggs each day, which continues until the middle of the summer. As a result, the population of bees in a colony rises from under 10,000 to a peak of around 60,000 in the summer, before declining again sharply in September and October.

Implications for the beekeeper

When you consider the scaling up of the hive as the bees prepare to forage to gather the maximum amount of nectar to turn into honey, pollen, and other foodstuffs, it is obvious that this is going to be a busy time for the beekeeper.

At the start of spring, the beekeeper will be concerned with checking the hive has a good water supply nearby and is in good condition. You will be checking that the queen is healthy and watching to see what the bees are bringing into the hive. Pollen on the legs, for example.

By May, you will be working on managing your colonies, watching out for swarming, and potentially adding new hives to your site. You will be adding supers so that the bees can store more honey. You will be checking on the queen and marking her if you can. You will be looking at brood comb and destroying queen cells.

The yearly cycle

By the end of August, you will be ready to harvest your honey. You will be extracting the honey from the super frames and ensuring the equipment is cleaned so it can be returned to the bees. You will be doing repairs and maintenance so the bees will be in good condition through the winter months.

For experienced beekeepers, this is the start of their beekeeping year. The rationale is that the better condition your bees are in overwinter, the better start the bees will have the following spring.

The ideal situation is to have a young queen (queens live for three to four years) with plenty of bees, free from disease and with sufficient stores. The advantage of a young queen is that she is likely to lay eggs later in the year. In turn, this means that worker bees do not have to live for as long under winter conditions.

For this reason, experienced beekeepers often remove two-year-old queens in September. Depending on your confidence, you can either produce the new queens yourself or buy them. If your colonies are small, they should be united and given a new queen. This is all tricky but satisfying work.

Another consideration is how much food the bees have stored so they can winter successfully. You may need to provide some sugar syrup to support them. Finally, the hives also need to be secured against pests such as mice and woodpeckers.

Keeping a Record

One of the things that is recommended but often neglected is to keep a record of what is happening to each colony and when. A good record helps you to remember what action was taken in each hive and to schedule follow up work.

Your journal will also give you a picture of what worked and what did not work, so you can put new methods into place in subsequent years or so you can get good advice from local experts.

For example, keeping a record of how much honey was in the hives at the start of winter and how much sugar syrup was added will help you to know what is needed the following year.

When Does Beekeeping Season Start – Seasonal Steps to Conclude

Below is a brief summary of what to expect during the seasons:

1. Spring: In many parts of the world, the beekeeping season starts in the spring when the weather starts to warm up. During this time, beekeepers need to prepare their hives for the upcoming season, including checking the hives for any damage or disease and making sure that the bees have enough food to sustain themselves. Spring is also the time when beekeepers may need to feed their bees with sugar syrup until the flowers start to bloom and nectar becomes available.

2. Summer: Summer is the busiest time for beekeepers as it is when most of the honey is produced. Bees are busy collecting nectar from flowers, and beekeepers need to regularly check their hives to make sure that the bees have enough space to store their honey. During this time, beekeepers may need to add additional honey supers, which are boxes placed on top of the hive to provide additional space for honey storage. Summer is also the time when beekeepers need to be vigilant for signs of pests and diseases that can affect their bees.

3. Fall: As the weather starts to cool down in the fall, beekeepers need to start preparing their hives for winter. This involves checking the hives for any damage and making sure that the bees have enough food to last through the winter. Beekeepers may also need to treat their bees for diseases and pests, as these can become more common during the fall.

4. Winter: During the winter, bees hunker down in their hives and do not venture outside. Beekeepers need to ensure that their hives are properly insulated to protect the bees from the cold. This is also the time when beekeepers may need to feed their bees with sugar syrup or fondant to provide them with enough food until the spring arrives.

5. Year-round tasks: In addition to the seasonal tasks described above, beekeepers also have year-round tasks that they need to attend to. These include monitoring the health of their bees, inspecting their hives regularly, and keeping the area around the hives clean and free of debris. Beekeepers also need to be aware of any local regulations that may apply to their beekeeping activities.

Beekeeping Disclaimer:

Beekeeping, like any agricultural activity, involves inherent risks. It is important to understand these risks and take appropriate measures to mitigate them.

Potential risks associated with beekeeping include:

1. Bee stings: Honey bees are generally not aggressive but can become defensive if they feel threatened or their hive is disturbed. Bee stings can cause allergic reactions or even anaphylaxis in some individuals, which can be life-threatening. It is important to wear protective clothing and follow best practices when handling bees to minimize the risk of stings.
2. Diseases and pests: Bees can be vulnerable to various diseases and pests, including mites, viruses, and bacterial infections. These can have significant impacts on bee colonies, leading to reduced honey production or even colony collapse. It is important to monitor hives regularly and take appropriate measures to prevent and treat diseases and pests.
3. Weather conditions: Extreme weather conditions, such as drought or cold temperatures, can affect the health and productivity of bee colonies. It is important to ensure that hives are appropriately sheltered and provided with adequate food and water.
4. Environmental hazards: Bees can be affected by environmental hazards such as pesticide exposure, pollution, and habitat loss. It is important to be aware of these hazards and take appropriate measures to protect bee colonies and promote healthy environments for bees.
5. Legal requirements: Beekeeping may be subject to local, state, or national regulations, such as registration or inspection requirements. It is important to be aware of these requirements and comply with them.

While beekeeping can be a rewarding and enjoyable activity, it is important to be aware of the potential risks and take appropriate measures to mitigate them. By following best practices and staying informed about the latest developments in beekeeping, beekeepers can help ensure the health and productivity of their hives and contribute to the well-being of bee populations worldwide.

Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API