January

January 15th to February 1st

1. Population starts increasing as you continue feeding artificial pollen.

2. Treat for Varroa mites - 2 Apistan strips per hive body and record date of installation. Leave strips in for 45 to 56 days, but no more.

February

February 1st until sufficient nectar is available

1. Check honey supply on each hive and feed with sugar syrup if hive has less than half a super of honey. Ten pounds of cane sugar to one gallon of water. Suggest top feeders: either double chambers or pail feeders.

2. Remind all area Peach growers to use caution with pesticides, especially Pencap-M, to avoid killing honeybees.

3. Repeat treatment for foulbrood February 1st - 15th (See September)

March

March 1st to 15th (Temperature above 60 degrees)

1. Check for brood to see if they are getting ready for the upcoming season. Feed sugar water and add entrance feeders.

2. Exchange Brood Boxes if two exist or add 2nd if only one exists. If you add a brood box, place it above the existing brood box. Some beekeepers prefer only one brood box.

3. Check the brood comb and replace frames that that have excessive drone and excessively small (old) worker cells.

4. Medicate with Fumidil-B for Nosema control (mix as directed) one gallon unless bees need feed (Be sure to remove at least two weeks before installing supers)

5. Place bait hives to catch new swarms. Bait hive should have one vial each of pheromone bee attractant and should be positioned 8 - 9 feet above ground level.

6. Take out Apistan strips. Leave strips in for 45 to 56 days, but no more.

March 20th

Check for queen cells and cut them out. Repeat every ten days for about 4 times.

April

Install supers on all hives. On strong hives, install 4 supers if frames have drawn comb or two supers if frames have foundation comb. Weak or medium hives should receive less supers accordingly. Periodic checks should be made during the honey flow to see if additional supers are needed.

May

June

June 1st to 15th

1. Harvest honey crop

2. Replace wet supers on hives for the bees to clean up - place one empty super (with no frames) between wet supers and hive.

June 15th

Sourwood season starts in the mountains

July

July 1st

1. Remove dry supers for storage. Supers should be stacked tightly with paradichlorobenzene crystals on a paper plate or piece of newspaper between each 5 supers. (Remember the fumes from the moth crystals move down as they evaporate)

2. Treat for Varroa Mites - 2 Apistan strips per hive body and record date of installation

August

August 20th thru September 20th

1. Re-queen all hives with good quality queens.

2. Take out Apistan strips which were put in about July 1st. Leave strips in for 45 - 56 days but no more.

September

September 13th thru 15th (After honey supers are removed)

1. Medicate with Terramycin to treat for Foul Brood. Mix 1 lb. of TM-10 with 2 lbs. of powdered sugar (or use Terra-Brood, a ready mixed product). Apply two teaspoons per hive three times at three to four day intervals. Do not rely on grease patties to be effective against AFB. They may be a deterrent to tracheal mites.

September and October

2. Combine weak hives. Use newspaper method - make two or three slits in the paper and be sure to remove the weaker of the two queens.

October

October 1st

1. Continue combining the weak hives.

2. Reduce the hive entrance to 3/8 inch to prevent mice from getting into the hive.

3. Treat all hives for Tracheal mites using the "Menthol Shop Towel" method. Combine one pound of menthol crystals in one pint of canola oil. Heat and stir in a metal coffee can until crystals are dissolved. (Do this outside your home) WEAR GLOVES !!!! Cut a roll of paper shop towels in half. Immerse one half in the liquid. The turn it over and immerse the other end so that all the liquid is soaked up. Double bag in zip-lock plastic bags. To treat, tear off a section and place it on tops of the frames of the brood nest. Wait about 12 days and repeat.

October 15th (After the first frost)

1. Medicate with Fumidil-B for Nosema control. Mix two parts sugar to one part water for syrup, then mix level teaspoon of Fumidil-B per gallon of water, or one (0.5 g [500mg]) bottle Fumidil-B to 44 pounds of granulated sugar with enough water to make six gallons of syrup. (Note spring treatment in March) Feed two gallons per hive.

November

November and December ( Right after Thanksgiving)

1. Make repairs on your equipment, assemble new equipment, and make some of those time saver gadgets.

2. Ventilate the hives with a 1/8th inch crack at the front of the inner cover.

December

December to February

1. Just after Christmas when the temperature is above 50 degrees, feed pollen substitute - 1 to 1 1/2 half pounds per hive. Mixture : three parts soybean meal, one part dried brewers yeast and one part powdered milk.