What should I do with my honey supers?

[mat299]

I plan to extract the honey from my supers next weekend.  The supers are still on the hives right now so my plan is to remove them and extract the same day.  My question is, what should I do with the supers after I finish the extraction?  I know to put the supers back in front of the hives to let the bees clean them up, but what about after that?  Should I store them away and if so, how and where do I store them?

[Vance G]

Your supers will be sticky, not dirty and do not require cleaning.  I cannot speak to how much danger you are in from other vermin.  

[David McLeod]

If you have the space in the freezer then 48 hours or so will do wonders to stop SHB and wax moths from destroying the combs. Rather than setting the boxes in front I stack mine right back on the hives for cleanup, it lessens robbing and the combs are not as damaged by the heat plus as long as there is not a flow they will hold on the hive longer until I have cleared a spot to store them. Just be sure to use strong colonies for cleaning them up that way or that much empty space is open invitation to SHB.
Next comes the trip to the freezer then I stack them on a tele cover turned over and cap the stack with a cover and close all the gaps with duct or masking tape.

[AllenF]

Freezing is a must here.   I took a few days off for the 4th and when I got back, I found 3 worms in a super that was in a slack left out and never made it to the freezer.   And remember, give the supers a day to warm up and dry off when they come out of the freezer.   Cold frames will form condensate and that will lead to mold.   

[asprince]

I place mine back on the hive awaiting the fall flow. The ones I extracted two months ago are partially full now.



Steve

[divemaster1963]

I place mine back on the hive awaiting the fall flow. The ones I extracted two months ago are partially full now.



Steve

Ditto. Ga. gets 2 flows in most areas. plus by putting them back and letting them fill them you can use them on the hives that did'nt bring in enough to make it thru the winter.

john

[BrentX]

I put one mt supers back on the hive.  The goal is to over winter in three to four mediums, with at least one being a full super of honey.  The best is for the bees to be coaxed to move up the hive, abandoning the bottom box.  This bottom box is removed in the fall leaving the bees on newer comb ( less toxins), facilitating a three year comb rotation.

Any additional supers go on the hive above the inner cover for the bees to clean out, then into the freezer as others have described.

[Intheswamp]

But what if you don't have a freezer to put your supers in?  What is the best course of action?

Ed

[asprince]

Ed, I don't freeze mine. After they are clean and dry I stack them up with ends of the stack capped with a telescoping top or a piece of plywood. I drop some moth tablets in to keep the wax moths in check.


Steve