usual spring honey harvest challenge

[Cuckmere couple]

i get to this stage each year when there is a lot of OSR around and other nectar that 'sets'

super frames capped and need to take off to spin before setting
but desire to leave them on until back end of spring so they capture setting honey and it doesnt mix with summer

i end up spinning before flow over and then having to put them back on and therefore have a second spin....

do others have simple ways around this...

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Move away from the OSR?

 

[JimBee463]

i get to this stage each year when there is a lot of OSR around and other nectar that 'sets'

super frames capped and need to take off to spin before setting
but desire to leave them on until back end of spring so they capture setting honey and it doesnt mix with summer

i end up spinning before flow over and then having to put them back on and therefore have a second spin....

do others have simple ways around this...

This is my first spring and also have some capped stores in the super so, whilst I can't answer your question, I'm also interested in any 'constructive' answers you get to your question.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Move away from the OSR?

Believe me. That was one of the criteria on moviing to where we are now.

 

[Ian123]

Believe me. That was one of the criteria on moviing to where we are now.

Couldn’t you have got a beekeeper husband chucked in with the move?

 

[Cuckmere couple]

Move away from the OSR?

but isnt other spring nectar equally as likely to set....hawthorn, blackthorn etc...i was under impression it wasnt just OSR

do people have 'runny honey' from spring crops without heating etc?

 

[pargyle]

but isnt other spring nectar equally as likely to set....hawthorn, blackthorn etc...i was under impression it wasnt just OSR

do people have 'runny honey' from spring crops without heating etc?

Yes ... I get a lot of tree blossom..sets eventually but so does summer honey. Nothing like the quick setting characteristics of OSR. We don't get a lot within reasonable flying distance - and on the odd occasion when we do I think my lazy little beggars hit the horse chestnut and sycamores that are betwen us and the OSR and in bloom almost at the same time.

 

[Curly green finger's]

but isnt other spring nectar equally as likely to set....hawthorn, blackthorn etc...i was under impression it wasnt just OSR

do people have 'runny honey' from spring crops without heating etc?

Yes I leave mine for another 4 weeks yet and I have the odd central part of frames which is starting to set , in three seasons I’ve not had a spring crop that’s set in the frames .

 

[drex]

I had to take mine off earlier rather than later, otherwise no chance. Now living in a non osr area and thankful, even if my spring crop is minimal

 

[Erichalfbee]

Couldn’t you have got a beekeeper husband chucked in with the move?

Already had a “lad”

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

but isnt other spring nectar equally as likely to set....hawthorn, blackthorn

nowhere near as likely. Dandelion sets but only after it's been taken off the hive, and even then it takes weeks.. I've had spring honey taken off in September and only then it's starting to set

 

[Curly green finger's]

I know a couple of bfs who extract spring and summer in one go in august not surprising really

 

[Erichalfbee]

Most do if they are not near OSR

 

[Curly green finger's]

Most do if they are not near OSR

No they are near osr

 

[Erichalfbee]

So they let the honey set hard in the supers?

 

[Curly green finger's]

So they let the honey set hard in the supers?

Nope not set at all well the buckets were that I bought 300 lbs of it
Obviously set after extraction

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I think bee farmers just let the last of the OSR set then slam it in the apimelter

 

[Curly green finger's]

I think bee farmers just let the last of the OSR set then slam it in the apimelter

Possibly emyr how much of it would be set in the frames if my own spring crop has minimal set frames .
The bees are going to use some and then the summer crop is put in the outside of frames .
I’ve seen two or three different honeys in frames

 

[Erichalfbee]

I don’t understand. So the bees are allowed to forage in OSR but they eat all of it so there is none set in the frames at harvest or for some reason the OSR doesn’t set till it’s in buckets even if it’s spun off in August? What am I missing?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Nope not set at all well the buckets were that I bought 300 lbs of it
Obviously set after extraction

But was that spun off in the spring?