Fall flow in Maine

**ralittlefield** · 08-07-2011, 05:59 AM

I would appreciate some feedback from any Maine beekeepers on what you expect for a fall flow this year.

I have two hives that are both two deeps and one medium. They have not yet started drawing out comb in the honey super. Will the fall flow be enough to fill a super, in addition to drawing comb?

**Andrew Dewey** · 08-07-2011, 06:24 AM

Hi Ralph,

I was in a yard yesterday that had what to me is the delightful smell of Goldenrod honey. With the rain today and the forecast scattered showers for the rest of the week there should be enough moisture in the ground for there to be a good flow from Goldenrod and Aster. That said, I've had poor experience with the bees drawing comb after the initial spring buildup. I'm not saying don't put the super on, as a super in the barn will never get filled with honey, but don't be terribly surprised if the bees ignore it. If they do ignore it and instead store the honey in the brood chamber, you more than likely will not need to feed them to get them up to weight before winter. Keep us posted on how it goes. Traditionally in Maine we've over wintered in two deeps but there is a growing movement to add a medium or even a third deep. So you are ahead of the curve with the medium!

**PappyMAINEiac** · 08-07-2011, 06:28 AM

I am running two hives myself and one is very strong hive, while the other is rebounding from swarming earlier. They both have 1 full super and the other super is half full...I expect they will finish filling the second supers this fall but I will put on a 3rd on each just in case. The crappy goldenrod is just startin so the GOOD goldenrod should arrive in a few weeks. Weather is perfect so I am optomistic that we will have a good flow.

**brac** · 08-07-2011, 06:42 AM

The bees here aren't working the goldenrod yet, but I do have some yards that are still working alfalfa

**ralittlefield** · 08-07-2011, 01:41 PM

Thanks to all for the replies. I guess that if they do not fill the super, I will plan to install a shim in the early winter and pour in some dry sugar over some newspaper. Both hives were purchased as four frame nucs, and in reality only had 3 1/2 frames drawn out, so I think that they have done quite well. I hate the idea of losing them this winter for lack of due diligence on my part.

**Andrew Dewey** · 08-07-2011, 01:48 PM

Hi Ralph,

That method of feeding should be regarded as an emergency method and is indicative of improper assessment in the fall by the beekeeper. By the first of October you should know which colonies will need stores in order to adequately make it through winter. The idea of having the extra medium is that they'll have enough stores to thrive and raise brood in the spring time without further intervention on your part. It certainly makes sense to check the bees in February and feed them if they look like they are starving, but the idea is that they'll be cruising on their stores and you'll have no reason to feed them then. Mike Palmer at EAS said that he likes to have all his hives up to weight before hunting season begins. Sounds like good advice to me.

**brac** · 08-07-2011, 09:09 PM

ralittlefield, sounds like your next nuc's should come from me. Several people I sold nuc's to this spring, had their bees draw out and fill 2 deeps and a med super, then go to the trees. How heavy are your hives right now?

**Ted Kretschmann** · 08-07-2011, 09:23 PM

Do you maine folks even have summer???? Here in Alabama we have three seasons. Winter, Summer and Fall. And a little goldenrod is blooming at the higher elevations of the mountains down here. TED

**brac** · 08-07-2011, 09:56 PM

Ted, you guys are really missing out. In Maine we have 5 seasons, Winter, Mud, Spring, Summer, Fall. People know how bad Winter is, but Mud Season is Maine's dirty secret.

**ralittlefield** · 08-08-2011, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by brac

How heavy are your hives right now?

I don't know, but that is something I should check. From what I have heard, two deeps should weigh around 150 LBS. What weight do you like to see in your hives? I just read that they can be weighed by hooking a (large) fish scale to the back of the bottom board and weighing one side. That weight multiplied by 2 will give a close approximation of the hive weight.

**brac** · 08-08-2011, 09:29 AM

I just lift if by hand from each side. Light is light, heavy is heavy.

**af_newbie** · 08-08-2011, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by brac

Ted, you guys are really missing out. In Maine we have 5 seasons, Winter, Mud, Spring, Summer, Fall. People know how bad Winter is, but Mud Season is Maine's dirty secret.

You are lucky. In Canada, we have two: Winter and "Construction Season".