Early-Summer Hive Management: Harvesting Honey and Planning Ahead 📝

As summer sets in, hive management shifts from growth to honey extraction and maintaining colony strength. In many southern regions, the major nectar flow has ended, and beekeepers should begin assessing their colonies for both honey harvest and nutritional needs heading into late summer.

Signs the Flow Has Ended

Watch for signs that the colony has begun consuming stored honey. This behavior, along with a lack of new nectar, confirms that the major flow has passed.

In hot, dry summers, bees often stop capping honey even when it’s fully cured. If most of the frame is capped and nectar flows have ended, it’s usually safe to harvest. Waiting too long may result in bees’ consuming the surplus.

Brood Chamber Condition

In the hive inspection to evaluate the end of nectar flow and pulling supers, it’s critically important to examine the brood box.  Check for healthy brood and a solid laying pattern from the queen. Equally as important is checking pollen stores. If they are minimal and mostly uniform in color, that suggests a limited floral variety. This reduced diversity and volume of pollen signals the need to monitor for nutritional stress.

Although brood production can still be strong, if stored honey in the brood box is sparse, the colony will be left with little to no reserves once the supers are removed for harvest.

In a nutshell:

• Harvest supers promptly: If the honey is mostly capped and passes a shake test, harvest immediately to prevent consumption by the bees.
• Check for consumption: Drawn combs’ being emptied is a clear sign the bees are relying on stored honey.
• Evaluate brood and nutrition: Ensure there’s at least six frames of brood and assess pollen availability. A lack of diverse pollen may warrant early feeding.
• Start feeding earlier than usual: In especially hot and dry years, consider feeding both syrup and pollen patties starting in mid-July rather than waiting until August or September.
• Restore hive reserves: After honey supers are removed, aim to maintain 25–30 pounds of stored honey or syrup in the hive to support the bees through late summer and early fall.

Looking Ahead

A strong colony with good brood, an active queen, and some remaining foragers can thrive with a little support. Adjust feeding practices to fit local conditions, monitor for nutritional stress, and use the postharvest window to prepare your hives for the long stretch ahead.