Beekeepers all over the world prepare for the new season at different
times and follow a calendar rhythm with beekeeping tasks divided by season.
Some of us live in warmer climates and will be starting spring preparations
sooner, all the while others still have freezing temperatures and no end in
sight for winter.
Whatever the case may be with you, there’s a general understanding of
what spring preparations look like and, today, we will be going through some of
the most important ones. And remember, you should always supplement any general
advice on seasonal beekeeping activity with information specific to your region
and location.
ü Check Beekeeping
Inventory & Supplies
Late winter is perhaps the best time to plan ahead for the next 6 months
or so. If you don’t keep an inventory of the necessary beekeeping equipment,
this is the moment to start it and you will be thankful for it later too. It’s
extremely important that you stay on top of this particular task, as it will
save you time in the long-run. Just think of it this way: wouldn’t you rather
focus on daily seasonal activities, especially during the busiest times of the
year, rather than worry about shortage of wax, artificial honeycombs, new
hives, bee treatments and so on?
The following items might seem trivial, but they are precisely what
beekeepers can’t do without:
-
facial mesh and body suit – to protect yourself from
insect bites and bee stings,
-
smokers - needed to calm the bees,
-
chisel – to simplify your work,
-
new frames – 8-12 frames for every hive. It’s vital to
consider the development and expansion of bee families.
-
spare hives – in the future they will be needed for
cuttings, landing swarms, or at least as a trap,
- electrical equipment like heaters, electron plowers and even an electric drive for the honey extractor with a control unit.
ü Beehives
Inspection & Changes
Winter is a quiet season for the bees. They
will stay in the hive and live off their food stores and need not be disturbed.
By February, check that the bees have enough food. This downtime gives you the
chance to prepare your equipment for the rush of activity in the spring and
work on other projects.
Spring is the time for colony expansion and swarming. Around March the
queen lays eggs and the hive is busy producing food to the new brood. Making
sure that everything goes according to plan means keeping a close eye on your
hives and checking that the bees have enough food until the flowers bloom.
Furthermore, an inspection is required to determine if there’s a solid brood
pattern. If you suspect that the queen died, you will need to replace her.
Another good advice is to position an empty hive or two in case some of
the bees swarm and are looking for new homes. If you don't do this, you could
lose bees that travel elsewhere.
ü Establish Harvesting
Calendar
Creating a beekeeper’s calendar can help you plan ahead
for a successful year of keeping bees, but you may need to shift the dates
later on, according to current weather patterns. However, no matter where you
are or what the local forecast holds, knowing what you’ll harvest for the
coming months is invaluable information.
We recommend that you join a local beekeeping
association or club as it is one of the best ways to learn about the
particulars of beekeeping for your region. Yet an easier and faster way would
be to install Apiary Book – an app that is dedicated to your beekeeping needs.
It keeps track of your inventory and beehives, you can set up your own flower
blooming calendar, manage daily to do lists, and amazingly, it connects you
with experienced beekeepers who can give you advice when you need it most!
Follow the link to install or create an account: https://wj48y.app.goo.gl/BlogApiaryBook
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