By: Ann Harman
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2019 issue of BEEKeeping Your First Three Years
If your colony was started from a package of bees, do not plan on a honey harvest this year. First year is for colony growth.
If started from a nuc (nucleus colony) you could harvest honey if you have a late honey flow and colony numbers are sufficient.
• Start keeping records for each colony.
• Plan inspections to keep time short.
• Make use of days with warm sun, low wind and temperatures above 60°F.
• Encourage bees to draw comb by spraying foundation with 1:1 sugar syrup with Honey-B-Healthy as a stimulant.
• In top bar hives, move follower board to keep up with comb construction.
• In Langstroth hives only add a brood chamber when the first one has 90% drawn comb.
• Food for drawing comb is 1:1 sugar syrup.
• Keep entrances small until colony numbers increase.
• Watch at the entrance for bees returning with pollen.
• If weather is inclement feeding pollen patties may be necessary.
• If in small hive beetle (SHB) territory monitor pollen patties for infestation.
• Look for clues that queen is present – eggs and young larvae.
• A compact brood pattern indicates a good queen.
• Replace queen if she dies or is not laying enough eggs to increase colony numbers.
• Aim for all brood chambers with drawn comb and a large healthy colony by the end of June.
• Bottled sugar water is not honey! Do not put honey supers on when feeding sugar syrup.
• Learn about your bees’ foraging area whether rural, suburban or urban.
• Learn seasonal pollen and nectar plants in your area.
