Goldenrod honey question

[beehappy1950]

Is goldenrod a very big honey flow? Do I need to worry more about putting on more supers? I have noticed they are starting to work it now. We still have birdsfoot trefoil, sweet clover, red and dutch clover, and alfalfa going to right now. Harold

[Kathyp]

like all these decisions, it depends on what's going on inside.  check your supers.  if they look like they are filling up, add  more.

[beehappy1950]

I was just wondering if it was much of a honey plant. Usually it is too cool up north here for me to get much honey put up this time of year. Thanks Harold

[stella]

I thought this would be a super full flow for us Minnesotans, but mine arent working the super thats been on for a month already. They are just going there to lounge and drink cocktails.

My hive requeened themselves last month and now they are busy raising brood to get their numbers back up. (I assume, as a green horn)

Next year I plan to take honey throughout the season instead of waiting for fall supers. I dont understand how first year beeks are pulling a 100 pounds of honey off a new hive! Yeesh!

I have been reading here that goldenrod honey is acceptable and not acceptable. Until I get some, which isnt looking good, I cant tell ya either way. Good luck tho.

Im hoping for a long, long, nice fall. We deserve it after last winter.

[hankdog1]

Stella depends on each persons take on acceptable.  Around here tulip popular honey is some really good dark honey but thanks to US honey education people think you did something to it and won't buy the stuff.  As for the goldenrod you guys are talking about the early varities around here don't seem to produce any honey the later varities seem to produce a pretty good and stinky flow.  You'll know when they start putting it up cause you'll hate to open the hive the smell is so bad.  But once it's cured the smell goes away and makes a pretty decent honey.

[indypartridge]

Is goldenrod a very big honey flow? Do I need to worry more about putting on more supers?

Depends, mostly on weather. Some years we've had a strong goldenrod flow, other years hardly any. Most years if there's a significant flow, that becomes the winter stores for the bees. Some years I have to feed in the fall, and once in a while the flow is so strong they'll fill some extra supers.

[cam]

Checked hives yesterday. Flow is good here. Some hives drawing comb. Bees all over the goldenrod and Japanese Bamboo about to bloom.

[stella]

Thanks hankdog, that really helps to clarify some of the things Ive read.

[JP]

Stella, down here in southeast, Louisiana we get the stinky goldenrod bloom in October. Any flow is dependent on mostly rainfall (high winds that literally blow flowers off of plants/trees can be an issue as well). If adequate rainfall we can get a bumper crop from goldenrod and the honey is to die for!


...JP

[beehappy1950]

Stella. Hang in there, it looks like maybe we will get some of that goldenrod honey yet. The weather calls for 80s and 90s here all week. Oh yea, Ha.

[stella]

Woohoo, beehappy!
The weather is fantastic with intermediate rain and sun. We are fortunate. I sure would like a little more honey from my first year hive. Im so tempted to go steal a frame.

Im curious to how goldenrod nectar smells with all the talk of it being stinky. Im going to make sure I lift the hive cover once a week and take a whiff. lol

[caticind]

Stella, you won't even need to lift the cover, you'll know!  Last year it smelled exactly like a small, hot room full of reeking gym socks up to 20 feet downwind of my hives.

[stella]

Ive got boys and lots of em. So it should smell like their room then?

[skatesailor]

I like the taste of goldenrod honey. Its a lot darker than most. I also like the smell coming from the hives this time of year because it tells you the flow is on. You can smell it for quite a distance.

[Course Bee]

Stella, I got a cup and a half of honey my first year. That was the richest honey I've ever had. It's only the best for my wife and three boys. $60 dollars an ounce. I think I'm going to give them cheap honey this year. I'm guessing it will cost less than a dollar per ounce.

[stella]

I was happy (and feeling a little guilty) for pulling one full frame this first year. I got 7 cups. It is priceless.

How much did you get this year? Are you done pulling honey?

[Algonam]

So far we only pulled 1 frame in July and we got 6 cups from it. It looks like each hive(2 hives) will have 100lbs for winter and this weekend I'll decide if we take the excess over and above those full supers at roughly 100lbs each. Nucs were installed last wk of May.

[stella]

So Algonam, the excess that your referring to... will it be from honey supers or are you going to pull frames from the lower deeps that may have more than the 100 pounds of honey?

[Algonam]

Stella,

I have 2 hives. Hive "A" has enough in Box #2 to give pretty much give them their winters food. Box #3 has 2 frames of honey they are almost finished filling and sealing. I expect to transfer those 2 frames down to box #2 for them, and keep nothing for ourselves from this hive.
Hive "B" has a full Box #2, and almost all is capped. Box #3 if half full of honey and they are in various stages of topping them off and capping. This is the hive I am thinking where we might have the excess in. First I will make sure there is enough for them. I expect we'll be able to get away with 2 or 3 frames of honey. I won't know for sure until we see what they've sealed over this week and how much more they've done.

My plan would be to leave them the goldenrod honey from Box #3 and take the frames from Box 2 which should be wildflower honey from late July.
(ie:switch some frames around)
I'll feed them their own honey since it is free. Don't go by me though......this is my first time at this!

If I am doing something wrong, usually someone here speaks up.
I am hoping year #2 will produce what we need for our annual personal consumption which is looking like 2 cups/wk or 500ml.

[stella]

Hi Algonam.
Well, you sure sound like you know what your doing. :)

Im sure if someone has input that they will speak up and offer advice.