I just read an interesting article where the guy said that they like to harvest in the spring rather than the fall. The idea being that this was good for colder climates for a couple of reasons. One because this way there is always pleanty of food in the hive. the second was because the honey frames themselvs act as thermal storage collecting heat in the day and releasing it at night helping the hives to maintain constant temps in winter.
Here is the website:
http://www.backyardhive.com (http://www.backyardhive.com)
He does top bars not too far from where I live.
What do you all think of this Idea?
You may want to call this a spring harvest. I get my honey by Mid June. I leave enough for them to make it through July and August, till the Asters and golden rod come in.
If I had a late blooming crop that produced good honey I would harvest late. Which I don't. I cannot see leaving my Tulip Popular and Black Berry honey on till the fall for all the bugs or what ever to have at.
Seems right to me. :) doak
I got a little bit while the maples were in bloom. Very tasty. My bees have been packing it in since the first of April - our weather has been unusually co-operative this spring.
I know that isn't really the subject, but I wonder if with our short single season it wouldn't be worth going into winter with the plan of combining early in spring to take advantage of the spring flow.
I think Alfred is suggesting harvesting the honey a full year later. Like this spring's honey stays in the hive through summer, fall and winter, being a food source and heat holder through the winter, and then gets harvest next spring.
When I went into my failing hive last week for a chest, they had some wonky bars where they had stored some honey either late last fall or this spring. Man--that stuff is great! There was only a little and they had messed up the topbars, so I took it. Tastes just like apples.
So, one vote for spring honey :)
I might have some facts wrong, but it seems that Richard Taylor was an advocate of harvesting one time. If I remember correctly he would harvest in the summer, but leave anything gathered after that harvest to get the bees through the winter. Not sure if it was considered a "Spring Harvest", tho.
I am too new to interject my opinion, yet. :)
Yes, it appears he was talking of leaving the honey on for the winter.
That is why I made the point of risking the chance of unwanted things getting into the hive. If the population is on the border line and cannot patrol all the frames, which they do not do any how when the temp is really cold. I'll take my chances harvesting in late spring to mid summer while it is fresh. Trying to leave a sufficient amount for the remainder of summer and winter feed. It has worked that way for me so for. If it isn't broke, don't try to fix it. :)doak
I plan to harvest around end of may, early june - leaving them enough to get through the july-august dearth. I don't believe I actually want any goldenrod honey (which will probably be their main product during the fall).
The problem is that is has usually all turned by sugar by spring...
It might all be in my imagination, but it seems like it tastes better when it's fresh.
Thanks for all of the great replies!
Yes, what the article was suggesting was harvesting all of one years take the following year, I think, at least that is how I understood it. I read more of his web site and it seems that he does harvest some but one frame at a time so as to not traumatize the girls. Doesn't sound very efficient. Still the whole idea of a thermal mass sounded good to me. Especially since I lost so many to the cold this year....
What Doak says makes sense to me, why leave the good stuff on for something to get at...
Michael, what do you mean that it has turned to sugar do you mean that it has crystalized?