I need some advice. I have a new colony this year and I am obviously new to bees. There are two full supers of borrd and honey. The second box added took some time for the bees to get up into. Well, I waited too long for the next inspection and found it totally full - lots of uncapped honey.
In spite of my mistakes, what shoul dI do now that it is August?
Do I add another super? which I already did anyway.
In our rather dry climate and hot temperatures, will they continue to produce?
Should I be looking into the Bottom Super to see what is going on? That seems like trouble for me to take a super off and search below.
Do I just leave them be and hope for the best?
When do I get them ready for Fall & Winter.
Sorry for all the questions but my books don't seem to give me the right answers. Thank you for any polite responses.
in Utah...
>>In spite of my mistakes, what shoul dI do now that it is August?
Chances are there is still one good honey flow left in the season so keep going.
>>Do I add another super? which I already did anyway.
See above.
>>In our rather dry climate and hot temperatures, will they continue to produce?
See Above.
>>Should I be looking into the Bottom Super to see what is going on?
Not unless you expect or notice problems--sudden drop off of bees, diarrhia, or strange oders.
>>That seems like trouble for me to take a super off and search below.
It doesn't have to be done that often but always a couple of weeks after harvest to assess winter stores and hive health.
>>Do I just leave them be and hope for the best?
Patience is a virtue. Or as Princess Leah once said, "The trouble with instant gratifaction is that it takes to long."
>>When do I get them ready for Fall & Winter.
After the honey harvest, if you are able to have one, or after labor day if you don't/
I'm in Utah too with two new hives that began as packages on foundation this April.
Absolutely put another super on. This past month (July) my hives went like crazy. The past two weeks they have drawn out, filled and capped two mediums each. The flow is still going strong and I expect it will be good until I extract around Labour Day or so when I steal from them and then let them put away their own stores.
In any case, yes, put that super on.
BTW, it would be helpful to know WHERE in Utah you are. I am in Cache Valley, another member is in Salt Lake Valley, another in Utah Valley, another . . . You get the point. Your experience in Dixie will be different than mine will be here. We can better help you if we know exactly where you are.
(PS For those of you not familiar with Utah, Utah's "Dixie" or "Dixieland" is the southern portion of the state ie St. George, Lake Powell etc. :D )
I am in Davis County, Utah. That is between Salt Lake and Ogden.
Can you tell me what the season typically goes like? I am thinking I was WAY late adding the last super. The other brood box was full all the way to the last edged of every frame, but no swarm yet.
How many more days do you think we have left for the bees to harvest?
Should I also expect to harvest around Labor Day?
What do I do after that?
If I was two borrd boxes full last week, could I expect much to harvest?
Thanks!