Harris County Beekeepers Association

Honey bees on honey comb.

Beekeeping Month by Month

January

· Examine your colonies

· Feed, if needed

· Clean and repair old equipment

· Assemble new equipment

Red woodbine.Wine cup.

February

· Examine your colonies

· Replace failing queens

· Feed, if needed

· Medicate colonies

March

· Examine your colonies; reverse brood chambers

· Replace failing queens

· Feed, if needed

· Watch for swarm preparation

Bluebonnet.

April

· Examine your colonies; split colonies and feed, if needed

· Replace failing queens

· Add supers

· Remove all medication from colonies

Red clover.Texas Dandelion.

May

· Examine your colonies; watch for swarm preparation

· Add supers 

· Harvest spring honey, if supers are ready

· Split colonies, if needed and feed them

June

· Examine your colonies

· Harvest spring honey, return supers to colonies

· Watch for swarming; make nucs, if needed

· Feed new colonies and nucs

Pink Evening Primrose.

July

· Examine your colonies; if robber bees present, use reducers

· Harvest honey; melt extra wax

· Feed new colonies and nucs

· Provide water for bees to help them cool their hives

Marsh coneflower.

August

· Examine your colonies, medicate, if needed for parasites

· Replace failing queens, remove queen reducers

· Harvest honey; melt extra wax

· Clean and store combs/supers

Bindweed.

September

· Examine colonies; medicate; clean and store combs/supers

· Replace failing queens

· Feed new colonies and nucs

· Ensure each colony has 45# of honey for wintering

Goldenrod.

October

· Examine colonies

· Medicate

· Feed light hives, new colonies and nucs

 

Asters.

November

· Examine colonies; finish medications; check food stories

· Purchase new equipment; repair old equipment for next year

· Replace old dark comb in supers

· Feed light hives, new colonies and nucs

Verbena.

December

· Enjoy the holidays

· Feed light hives, new colonies and nucs

 

 

Bitterweed.