sugar cost and when to buy

[Mint Bee]

closest I can find for 25kg bags is BFP, but still more than 5 pounds a kilo, which is crazy

https://www.bfp-xpress.co.uk/products/sucranna-granulated-sugar-25kg

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

When taking time into consideration, invert is a better option IMHO.

 

[pargyle]

When taking time into consideration, invert is a better option IMHO.

Even with just a few garden hives I won't go back to sugar syrup ... invert is brilliant, keeps without crystallising, they will take it down in almost any weather and it saves hours of stirring, heating, decanting and wife-annoying - plus - she never sees it arriving and getting hidden - unlike coming home with a trolley full of bags of sugar and hours with a maslin on the stove or my two ring electric hob !

 

[Erichalfbee]

invert is brilliant

Yep!

 

[Rory Fields]

Even with just a few garden hives I won't go back to sugar syrup ... invert is brilliant, keeps without crystallising, they will take it down in almost any weather and it saves hours of stirring, heating, decanting and wife-annoying - plus - she never sees it arriving and getting hidden - unlike coming home with a trolley full of bags of sugar and hours with a maslin on the stove or my two ring electric hob !

Isn't it always several times the price though? The bees adding their own invertase has always been sufficient for me, never had issues with it crystallising tbf.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Invert doesn’t get mouldy and the bees don’t have to cap it if there isn’t time.

 

[Rory Fields]

Invert doesn’t get mouldy and the bees don’t have to cap it if there isn’t time.

A little hive alive or thymol or surgical spirit stops that too though - sounds awfully expensive unless you've a wholesalers account?

 

[pargyle]

Isn't it always several times the price though? The bees adding their own invertase has always been sufficient for me, never had issues with it crystallising tbf.

https://gwenyngruffydd.co.uk/products/invertbeebee14kg5

= £1.78/Kg + advantages

https://groceries.asda.com/product/...hTazaGxpQPEP-8Cgk8NeZNf0rRiIqnwvZfuYK3-fwJo_Y

= £1.20/Kg + time + heat + disadvantages.

Yes, it is a bit more expensive but not several times the price. I'm happy to pay a reasonable premium for the convenience, I always keep a few drums in stock. One of our association members with lots of hives buys it in quantity and those who use it add to his order - helps him, helps us.

 

[Newbeeneil]

https://gwenyngruffydd.co.uk/products/invertbeebee14kg5

= £1.78/Kg + advantages

https://groceries.asda.com/product/...hTazaGxpQPEP-8Cgk8NeZNf0rRiIqnwvZfuYK3-fwJo_Y

= £1.20/Kg + time + heat + disadvantages.

Yes, it is a bit more expensive but not several times the price. I'm happy to pay a reasonable premium for the convenience, I always keep a few drums in stock. One of our association members with lots of hives buys it in quantity and those who use it add to his order - helps him, helps us.

Or you could go for fondant at about £1.20/kilo and not have to cart loads of water around.
And of course fondant is almost pure sugar where as invert is 20% water?

 

[pargyle]

Or you could go for fondant at about £1.20/kilo and not have to cart loads of water around.
And of course fondant is almost pure sugar where as invert is 20% water?

Yes ... that's an option and I know a lot of people who only feed fondant... I keep some in stock for energency winter feeding but I like to see them guzzling down invert when I'm feeding them up for winter. Just not sold on fondant for regular autumn feeding for them.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

Yes ... that's an option and I know a lot of people who only feed fondant... I keep some in stock for energency winter feeding but I like to see them guzzling down invert when I'm feeding them up for winter. Just not sold on fondant for regular autumn feeding for them.

We feed a lot of fondant. Don't mess about checking prices as it all comes from Bako.
Nucs & mating box's never have syrup as there's always wasp issues around us from mid July onwards.
Colonies have ten kilos of invert then 6 kilos block of fondant for the winter.

 

[Paulypaul]

Even with just a few garden hives I won't go back to sugar syrup ... invert is brilliant, keeps without crystallising, they will take it down in almost any weather and it saves hours of stirring, heating, decanting and wife-annoying - plus - she never sees it arriving and getting hidden - unlike coming home with a trolley full of bags of sugar and hours with a maslin on the stove or my two ring electric hob !

That's worth the additional cost of invert.

I have 10 kg of sugar hidden at the back of the food cupboard, where no one goes, for emergencies.

Otherwise, I've learnt the benefits of invert. It's just way faster and less of a mess and more convenient for the bees

 

[Swarm]

....And a nice drive to the supplier.

 

[Wilco]

For anyone with a Costco card.

 

[Superlativesoul]

A little hive alive or thymol or surgical spirit stops that too though - sounds awfully expensive unless you've a wholesalers account?

I table spoon of bleach in 2 ltrs of sryup works as well if no thymol to hand ,just the plain bleach not the lemon fragrance type .
John

 

[Newbeeneil]

View attachment 41056

For anyone with a Costco card.

Are Costco and Bookers associated?

 

[Wilco]

Are Costco and Bookers associated?

I don't think so.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Are Costco and Bookers associated?

no, Bookers are owned by Tesco

 

[enrico]

I table spoon of bleach in 2 ltrs of sryup works as well if no thymol to hand ,just the plain bleach not the lemon fragrance type .
John

Must be thin bleach as the thick bleach has coagulant in it.

 

[Ely]

We feed a lot of fondant. Don't mess about checking prices as it all comes from Bako.
Nucs & mating box's never have syrup as there's always wasp issues around us from mid July onwards.
Colonies have ten kilos of invert then 6 kilos block of fondant for the winter.

Hi. How quickly do they take fondant down and store it? I have given my bees a little syrup to see them through until the ivy comes out. I don't want to buy too much sugar if they can get their own ivy stores. Problem is, you can't guarantee how big the flow will be and what the weather will be like. I was planning on topping any light colonies up after the ivy has finished. Would they still take fondant down and store it in cooler autumn months? Thanks