September In The Apiary
In many ways my beekeeping year starts and ends in September / October.
These two months are crucial in order to get the bees through the winter, in order for them to have a successful spring and summer, in order to get them through the next winter.
Over the last few weeks this is what I have been up to in roughly chronological order:
- Applied Apiguard to reduce varroa population
- Started feeding the bees with Thick Syrup using Jumbo Feeder. I am aiming for the hives to weigh 15Kg on each side using a spring balance by the end of October. I have stopped feeding for the time being as they have enough and are starting to bring in nectar from ivy. Note: I am aiming for total of 15Kg of stores as using Bee Cosy. Nationally, 18Kg of stores are quoted as being required.
- Added roof insulation – 2.5cm of foam, to reduce the amount of space/air that the bees will warm up
- Cleaned up brood boxes, supers and other hive parts using hive tool, freezer, hot air gun at 600C and B401 to protect against wax moth. Read Bee Hygiene for more information.
- Stored spare hive parts in garage
October In The Apiary
As I have said before, I’m aiming for hives to weigh 15Kg on each side and when the temperature is consistently sub 7C I’m going to put on the Bee Cosies – the bees are going to love that.
I’ll also add mouse guards and take varroa counts.
Please help – I’m looking for a month by month guide to how much stores bees consume in the UK. Grateful if anyone can email me or post this information.
Read More
- My Apiary Notes – gives all the detail of what I am up to
- My Beekeeping Calendar – I keep changing and updating based on what I am learning through reading, discussion and experience. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this
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Can anyone tell me what are the best pollen-producing plants to place near the hives? I have a lot of rosemary and lavender and in the autumn sedums and of course ivy. What else can I plant, please?
Crocuses are great for early spring pollen, and now is the right time to plant them.
Thank you for that reminder. I’ll get planting! Just hope the mice don’t have a mid-winter feast on the crocuses instead of the spring bees!
I would like to now more about bee keeping in autumn, thank you.
Please see my Beekeeping Calendar which covers the extent of what I currently know as a novice beekeeper. Hope this helps.
Where did you get the bee cosies from? They look good.
Click: Bee Cosy.