Weird Winter, Weird Spring: Some Thoughts On Beehive Management

Reader Contribution by Kim Flottum
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We did everything right this year to prepare our bees for a typical winter in northeast Ohio, and, like most of the U. S., winter wasn’t typical. It wasn’t too cold for too long. Snow didn’t pile up, the wind didn’t blow…it was a wuss of a winter.

Well now. The weather may have made a mess of my plans, but the bees took full advantage of how mild and easy and the last few months have been. Because of all the wrapping and protection, the extra food we left on, and the kick-butt queens we put in last year…all of our colonies are strong and healthy right now…late March…but as good as it is, there could be some unforeseen problems coming up….

For instance…

If the bee population grows early, and the plants of spring grow early and the bees and the plants do well together because of the early warm weather…all about, or at least 3 weeks early…what happens in the middle of summer. The bees don’t quit you know…they just keep raising brood. But if the mid summer flowers are already gone…well…think about that. What do they eat?

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