golden rod flow duration ?

mushmushi · August 09, 2011, 03:03:43 PM

Hey guys,

I have started seeing around here the golden rod flowering for about maybe a week (and lots of them not yet fully developed).

How long does the golden rod flow last ? 2-3 weeks ?

I have to start feeding and perform the treatments in early September and I was hoping to get some honey from this flow since out of 11 hives, so far I've collected 3 mediums only (5-6 supers are still on the main hives).

Cheers

danno · August 09, 2011, 03:18:16 PM

goldenrod will last until a good frost.

Algonam · August 09, 2011, 07:48:54 PM

Mushmushi, what part of Quebec are you from?
I was raised North of Montreal in the Laurentain hills where Goldenrod would last about 1 month. This year in the Ottawa area where I now live, I expect the Goldenrod to be here for at least 1 month to 6 weeks. It is hard to say when that first frost will come. It was 16C this morning here(60 F).
This is my first year so I don't have any info on flow......

stella · August 09, 2011, 08:16:17 PM

I thought I read here recently that the goldenrod honey was not so good. Im in the same boat, wondering if I should pull one more honey frame (I just pulled my first one ever)before the goldenrod is done. If they bloom for a month, wont the bees have enough of a flow to replace 2 empty frames on a strong first year hive? (In addition to the fall feeding.)

slacker361 · August 09, 2011, 09:28:42 PM

I took 70 lbs off of a first year hive last year.... and I could have taken 30 lbs more and they still would have been good through out the winter...

mushmushi · August 09, 2011, 09:55:17 PM

Quote from: Algonam on August 09, 2011, 07:48:54 PM
Mushmushi, what part of Quebec are you from?
I was raised North of Montreal in the Laurentain hills where Goldenrod would last about 1 month. This year in the Ottawa area where I now live, I expect the Goldenrod to be here for at least 1 month to 6 weeks. It is hard to say when that first frost will come. It was 16C this morning here(60 F).
This is my first year so I don't have any info on flow......

South shore of Montreal. Yeah, I remember seeing the golden rod in September last year but I had no idea the bees would still be gathering nectar from it.

mushmushi · August 09, 2011, 09:57:56 PM

Quote from: stella on August 09, 2011, 08:16:17 PM
I thought I read here recently that the goldenrod honey was not so good. Im in the same boat, wondering if I should pull one more honey frame (I just pulled my first one ever)before the goldenrod is done. If they bloom for a month, wont the bees have enough of a flow to replace 2 empty frames on a strong first year hive? (In addition to the fall feeding.)

I've heard that it is a good honey (between clover and buckwheat).

AllenF · August 09, 2011, 10:59:18 PM

Bees make good honey from it.

stella · August 10, 2011, 12:03:59 AM

Thank you!

bee-nuts · August 10, 2011, 05:54:53 AM

Bloom time depends on weather and strain of g-rod. I have two strains. The first has started early this year. The second usually starts as the first is at full bloom. They dont seem to touch the first stuff. I think I get about two good months of it. some years it does not produce much honey, some it does. Im sure strain has a lot to do with quantity and quality of the honey. It granulates very fast and if your honey has high water content, this is when it will spoil buy fermenting.

As much moisture and heat as we have had this year, everything has grown bigger and taller than normal. I hope to get a fall flow for the history books this season.

Algonam · August 10, 2011, 08:01:10 AM

MushMushi,
How long have you been beekeeping?
I am interested in exchanging info with you since we are from the same climate, although 3 hrs apart.
I also don't know how much honey to take for ourselves now because I don't know how much more they will be able to gather/make for themselves and I want to make sure they have a full super for winter.

VolunteerK9 · August 10, 2011, 08:10:23 AM

The yellow top and golden rod has started to bloom here this week. Havent noticed the smell of the hives changing yet but I know its coming.

mushmushi · August 10, 2011, 10:15:45 AM

Hey Algonam,

> How long have you been beekeeping?

I've been beekeeping for 3 years now.

> I am interested in exchanging info with you since we are from the same climate, although 3 hrs apart.
Sure!

> I also don't know how much honey to take for ourselves now because I don't know how much more they will be able to gather/make for themselves and I want to make sure they have a full super for winter.

I take everything from the honey supers. If they have a nice capped comb of honey in the brood, I might remove that too for extraction. I will feed syrup in September. Overwintering the bees on their honey for almost 6 months is not recommended here since they might get dysentery.

You don't want to feed ?

stella · August 10, 2011, 11:58:31 AM

Algonam, please dont take your questions privately with mushmushi. I am finding we are in the same situation with our first year bees and I love the questions you post here. The threads are very helpful.

Algonam · August 10, 2011, 07:06:07 PM

OK Stella.
Wow I am happy to have finally helped someone on this board! Even though it is from asking many beginner questions.
After looking up where Minnesota is (shame on me eh!)......... I am wondering if you too may be in a similar climate due to your northern location in the US.

Mushmushi,
I am in my first year and haven't gathered enough info on winter feeding to make a decision, although it seems many people around here feed honey with their 2nd full super full.

I find sugar is expensive, and honey is free.....but haven't considered dysentery problems and don't know enough to know better.
Are you just afraid they will get it or you've experienced this or other local beekeepers have had this problem?

stella · August 10, 2011, 10:05:39 PM

Yes, shame on you...he he he.... Ill confess I had to look up where you are too. So shame on us. I live in a little happy bubble and I havent had geography class in, um, 33 years.
Climate. We have really cold, long winters for the most part. We can get our first frost in Sept and sit in the cold through March. We get a moderate amount of snow on average (last year we were buried). My chickens were so fed up with winter!
You are very helpful. Its like your a step ahead of me in questions. I am wandering through beekeeping just dealing with the here and now. :shock:

Algonam · August 10, 2011, 10:29:26 PM

Stella. Winter or cold sounds about the same here. Frost in Sept and Spring in late April. Apple blossom and lilacs are May. I'm now looking fwd to that. It seems our apple blossoms have good years every 2nd year and next Spring will be our good year!
We don't get alot of snow, maybe 2 feet or so unless we get hit by a big storm where we could receive 2 feet at once but that is only a couple of times each winter. It gets cold though in Dec Jan and Feb. It can hit the -30's at night fairly often during cold snaps. Rarely it hits the high -30's. Windchills can be a bugger on top of that. My bees are well protected in a sunny clearing with a stand of mature evergreen and cedar trees to block prevailing winds.
Yup, its been about 33 yrs since my last geography class too!