Uncapped honey and super removal

[Poly Hive]

Ivy seems to be unreliable further north.

During my time in Leicestershire the ivy was indeed worked by the bees. In my previous location of Aberdeenshire I never saw the ivy flower at all.

This is my first year in the Borders so I am watching the ivy with interest as next to our house is a vacant plot with a lot of ivy busy killing the trees.

PH

 

[REDWOOD]

What the books say and what I do are in total contrast. August is one of the better months here and I would not be removing any supers until the ivy is in flower which is well into september. Beekeeping cannot be run by calendar dates only observation, however a relational database can be established after a few years at an apiary

 

[madasafish]

Here at 150 meters above sea level and windy , wet and cold winters, all my wooden hives have insulation cosies which completely cover the brood box and one nadired super.
I nadir one super per hive and have never seen mould in super combs - no doubt due to insulation (my sole poly hive is the same).
Some are on OMFs where I leave the varroa tray in over winter and some on solid floors - makes no difference.



I aim to overwinter on 20kg of stores - Jumbo langs. Most consume less.

Lots of ivy here - flowers so late - Sept/Oct to be valueless in local flying conditions .

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I aim to overwinter on 20kg of stores - Jumbo langs. Most consume less.

Lots of ivy here - flowers so late - Sept/Oct to be valueless in local flying conditions .

I'm on the banks of the Yorkshire Ouse, appreciably North of your latitude yet my bees are all over the ivy on next doors sheds right into November.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I nadir one super per hive and have never seen mould in super combs - no doubt due to insulation

The only insulation I have is 50mm reticel under the roof - I have yet to see any mould in my nadired supers