Early Winter Prep Considerations
This is always a confusing time for me in beekeeping- end of August, start of September. On the one hand, its the end, and on the other, its not quite over. That is due to Japanese Knotweed,, a late bloomer here (I don't know why- is it on another part of the world's schedule?), and a fantastic source of dark honey, which many people say is their favorite (and I get calls about).
But its not a for sure thing, and its hard to know if its going to really be a crop or not. This year was terrible- the worst I have seen- for blackberry (I'd say a third of what I expected? I harvested 45 gallons only (540 pounds)). And I am not seeing Knotweed in my hives- though I see it flowering. Plus- as they were low already in stores due to the dearth (I assume) of blackberry, I sort of feel like they should keep any knotweed they can get. So I have only half heartedly supered.
In addition, it is confusing as one tries to piece together from previous experience what the best way to set up for winter will be. There are so many options. There isn't- at all- a "proven" best way. Those that feel they have had decent luck in the previous years, tend to make no changes. I doubt they've discovered anything much- but just naturally sticking to what they know- and are doomed to be hit by a disappointing surprise.
For myself, I have a few ideas- still forming. I want, for one, to simplify the process if I can. I have 35 hives to manage, and cannot do what I used to do in babying them all, but have to think more realistically about what "really" matters- which is to say, what I think, from having seen both very bad years, and very good ones, matters.
Mite treatment is obviously high on the list. I have this past month installed OA blue towels in all hives, and am seeing a good mite drop (which I am puzzled by- as my counts up to know have been so low- 1 or 0). All hives with a few exceptions have young queens, and all have good brood patterns (not like some previous years).
I do not know yet what I will do for a Fall treatment, if anything. My friend Jim plans on a MAQS treatment after knotweed- I don't know. Maybe nothing.
Last year about this time, I had MAQS on the hives- and it didn't knock the numbers down, so I treated in September with Apivar. Also not successful. I then pulled it, and placed OA Blue Towels for the winter- and treated 2x with OA vapor in January- and have seen the lowest mite count I have seen in 4 or 5 years. Extraordinary.
So do that again?
There is much more to think about- moving away from dry sugar winter treatments? Wrapping hives in black breathable weed barrier (I think this has great promise) and eliminating the roofs I put on everything? Putting on vent boxes on all hives (most already have them), an feeding thick syrup through the screen?
All small things- but important to me- each representing a reduction in work, and each trying to be responsible to the things I have experienced, versus the things I read about- which are often without basis- just based on opinion. Why beekeeping proves to be so unpredictable, and difficult, I don't know.
But its not a for sure thing, and its hard to know if its going to really be a crop or not. This year was terrible- the worst I have seen- for blackberry (I'd say a third of what I expected? I harvested 45 gallons only (540 pounds)). And I am not seeing Knotweed in my hives- though I see it flowering. Plus- as they were low already in stores due to the dearth (I assume) of blackberry, I sort of feel like they should keep any knotweed they can get. So I have only half heartedly supered.
In addition, it is confusing as one tries to piece together from previous experience what the best way to set up for winter will be. There are so many options. There isn't- at all- a "proven" best way. Those that feel they have had decent luck in the previous years, tend to make no changes. I doubt they've discovered anything much- but just naturally sticking to what they know- and are doomed to be hit by a disappointing surprise.
For myself, I have a few ideas- still forming. I want, for one, to simplify the process if I can. I have 35 hives to manage, and cannot do what I used to do in babying them all, but have to think more realistically about what "really" matters- which is to say, what I think, from having seen both very bad years, and very good ones, matters.
Mite treatment is obviously high on the list. I have this past month installed OA blue towels in all hives, and am seeing a good mite drop (which I am puzzled by- as my counts up to know have been so low- 1 or 0). All hives with a few exceptions have young queens, and all have good brood patterns (not like some previous years).
I do not know yet what I will do for a Fall treatment, if anything. My friend Jim plans on a MAQS treatment after knotweed- I don't know. Maybe nothing.
Last year about this time, I had MAQS on the hives- and it didn't knock the numbers down, so I treated in September with Apivar. Also not successful. I then pulled it, and placed OA Blue Towels for the winter- and treated 2x with OA vapor in January- and have seen the lowest mite count I have seen in 4 or 5 years. Extraordinary.
So do that again?
There is much more to think about- moving away from dry sugar winter treatments? Wrapping hives in black breathable weed barrier (I think this has great promise) and eliminating the roofs I put on everything? Putting on vent boxes on all hives (most already have them), an feeding thick syrup through the screen?
All small things- but important to me- each representing a reduction in work, and each trying to be responsible to the things I have experienced, versus the things I read about- which are often without basis- just based on opinion. Why beekeeping proves to be so unpredictable, and difficult, I don't know.
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