May Beekeeping Chores
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Bumblebee on Ajuga, or Bugleweed, in my Missouri garden. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
May Beekeeping Chores
Busy, busy, busy, that’s May for beekeepers where I live. Besides the beginning of swarm season May marks the beginning of the nectar flow, when bees are storing the flower essence and dehydrating it for winter food. What we all call honey.
May is the time to monitor brood boxes to make sure the queen bee has laying space. Add empty frames in the broom box if it’s full and add supers when bees are working the outermost frames.
Check the frame bottoms for swarm queen cells.
If you ordered bees, install package and pick up bees. Remember to ask if they have been treated for Varro and what was used. Add it to your beekeeping diary and record-keeping.
Monitor small hive beetles and Varro mite levels with sugar shakes or alcohol washes.
Last hard frost day is May 10 so you can start planting annuals. Also keep track of what plants you see bees visiting and add more.
