When do you harvest honey?

[Davepeg]

My husband and I have 6 hives in Rockland county.  We're not really into beekeeping for the honey - it's more of a hobby, we just like the girls!  But I do like to pull some honey each year for our use and family.  I have pulled a few frames in the spring when I know the bees are active and can restore.  Is there a "right" time to harvest honey?  I don't want to do any harm.

[Scadsobees]

Depends on how you want to handle the honey.  If its a few frames at a time you can take the frames whenever they are full.  Spring, summer, fall, that don't matter so much.

If you want to do it all at once you can wait until fall.

I usually take the honey off twice, early summer and mid summer due to equipment limitations.

If you do pull honey in the fall just make sure to leave enough for them to make it through the winter (80-120 lbs depending on your area). 

Rick

[Davepeg]

Rick,
We only pull a few frames at a time (4 - 6). I use the crush and strain method.  If we don't pull frames by the end of the summer, I won't pull any in the fall (unless the hive is totally full).  We also feed like crazy (bee tea) in the spring and fall.  I pulled some honey last fall and it crystalized - not sure why.  I like the spring honey - it's so light it's almost transparent!
Thanks for your response, I like to see what other bee keepers are doing. 
Peg

[Scadsobees]

I'm in it for the honey, so I'll do things a little different.  I'm not sure how you manage supers and space on the hives, but if I were to leave one super on with 2 brood boxes and not mess with them, by fall I'd have 2 full brood boxes and 1 full super, and most of that super wouldn't be needed by the bees.

Most natural, unheated, unfiltered honey will crystallize rather quickly, depending on the source flowers.

If you have a mature hive, you don't have any reason to feed in the spring, and if you don't take honey off in the fall then you shouldn't need to feed then either.  Maybe that is why your spring honey is so light?  Bee tea? Maybe I'm missing something....

Rick