What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Swn58]

Could be worth having a search on youtube for Charles Dowding.

Thank you James, I have heard of him....very interesting.
My background, reluctantly in the beginning, is in landscape design and gardening. As a 'lazy git' I try to get away with as little heavy digging as possible The problem here is that these allotments have been abandoned for around five years.
I decided to take control of the soil. First I am doing basic stripping and digging. Then I will trench dig and get out as much couch grass roots and plantains etc. as possible. Anything that grows after that will be 'zapped' with systemic weed killer, until around May. By then my various new plants will be in good enough order in my greenhouse, on one of my other allotments. They will then be transplanted. Many will be perennials, so I hope I will be giving them a fighting chance!
After that......I hope that there will only be a bit of light hoeing!

 

[JamezF]

The problem here is that these allotments have been abandoned for around five years.

Last year he started converting some pasture land that he'd bought that's full of bindweed and couch grass, again without digging. I think he ended up just putting down cardboard and compost and then planting through black plastic sheeting, but it seems to have done a fair job of controlling the weeds. Not sure I'm really comfortable with the use of the sheeting though. Not really an option if you want to plant perennials anyhow, so perhaps digging is your only option in this instance.

James

 

[pargyle]

Changed the floors on all 15 of mine today. All still alive and ranging from 4 to 8 seams and all ok for stores so looking good. Bits of pollen coming in but nothing substantial. Hope it's just the time of year but the bees were very defensive,hope they haven't gone feral over the Winter!

I'm not surprised they were defensive - still far too early to be fiddling about with them ...

 

[Nannysbees]

I've started my 'bee-friendly' garden on my new allotments in North Birmingham
As the area is huge, I was going to create a sort of meadow. However, the soil is so rich that I'm now creating a series of borders and will plant a lot of herbs and flowers. Room will also be made for potato's and there will be many a fancy pumpkin! It's looking ever more important to grow yer own food nowadays. I thought I'd increase our crop production this year!
I must say that after a couple of days of heavy digging, I am obviously well 'out of condition'
The photos: Apart from my 'hole-diggery,' this is what is flowering at the moment. Some were taken on a 'Billy the Dog' walk on Sunday. Billy is telling us that this is where the spring is!

Looks a lovely plot

 

[gregior]

I'm not surprised they were defensive - still far too early to be fiddling about with them ...

Yeah you're right I didn't go into any of the boxes just a quick floor change. I think i'm getting bee withdrawal syndrome can't wait for the season to start!

 

[pargyle]

Yeah you're right I didn't go into any of the boxes just a quick floor change. I think i'm getting bee withdrawal syndrome can't wait for the season to start!

Sit on your hands next year .... there was plenty of time left for changing floors ....if, indeed, they needed changing ? It's not something I generally bother with ... I have mesh floors and the bees seem to keep them pretty clean.

 

[gregior]

Sit on your hands next year .... there was plenty of time left for changing floors ....if, indeed, they needed changing ? It's not something I generally bother with ... I have mesh floors and the bees seem to keep them pretty clean.

Mine are on solid floors they get a bit grubby and damp so I like to change them.

 

[pargyle]

Mine are on solid floors they get a bit grubby and damp so I like to change them.

Fair enough ... and you get more than your fair share of the wet stuff where you are. Do you tilt your hives a little to the front so any moisture runs out ... and do you have insulation above the crown board ?

 

[Swn58]

Looks a lovely plot

It's the weirdest place. The allotments area is around a half a square mile. My partner has has three allotments there for twenty years. There are many abandoned patches, but some are held by 'extended' families, that do not always use them. The area can be described with one word: Anarchy! Fly tippers have often been 'allowed' to come in and dump all manner of rubbish. A few years ago, six sheds were burned down, due to a 'turf war.' A 200 hundred year old Oak tree is in the way? Light fires around it. 'Oh look....it's dead...." It can be like 'the wild west' there! We sometimes get raiders who steal and destroy things. A colleague, who also keeps bees there, had some colonies destroyed one night, for no reason whatsoever. "Just 'avin a lafff" I suppose
There is less 'Leisure & Gardening there,' more 'Farming!' Huge swathes of the land are actually ploughed. Areas, easily the size of tennis courts, are planted with just courgettes, spinach, squash, or coriander. At least you are guaranteed local/fresh produce in the shops of Brum!
My other allotments are run under strict rules.....maximum shed size, keeping plots tidy etc.. It's a much smaller area, so needs to be run like that I guess. It's just so strange that they both come under the same department though!

 

[Brian Bush]

I put up a new fence due to the holes in the old one and hedge caused by the mayhem of storm Eunice.
I bought the fence posts from a farmer, landlord of another apiary who loaned me the tools.
The landlord of this apiary had the sheep fencing and barbed wire. My friend and I did the hard work.
I went on-line to find some hawthorn bare root whips. I only need 10. They were 65p each but the delivery was £12.50. I am going to tour the local garden centres but it is not the thing they usually stock.


I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
And gaze at the moon 'till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in.

 

[victor meldrew]

Well then arise and go now, and go to Innesfre
and a Small cabin build there of clay and wattles made.
you can have nine bean rows
and a hive for the honey .
you can live all alone in a bee loud glade

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The Lake Isle of Innisfree
BY WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

 

[JamezF]

Big fat fail with the hive-moving this morning. I couldn't remember what I'd done with the hive straps. Proper planning and preparation prevents piss-poor performance Should have looked for them yesterday. Now found, but it will have to wait until after I've got a few other things done.

James

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I couldn't remember what I'd done with the hive straps

I'm lucky that every hive at the out apiaries is strapped to the stands at all times, and at home - I can hardly move without tripping over one!

 

[JamezF]

Yay! Hives moved. Lifting a floor, double brood and roof onto a barrow all in one go is a bit tough though, even with a poly hive. I shan't be doing that again in a hurry.

James

 

[Antipodes]

As the temperature was peaking yesterday afternoon (23c), I had a quick look at the activity at one of my little mating nucs. The queen was at day 7, so due to fly...and there she briefly was, before taking off

 

[Erichalfbee]

As the temperature was peaking yesterday afternoon (23c), I had a quick look at the activity at one of my little mating nucs. The queen was at day 7, so due to fly...and there she briefly was, before taking off

Yes got her. Excellent

 

[JamezF]

Yes got her. Excellent ❤❤

I have always really struggled when it comes to finding the queen, but here?


James

 

[Antipodes]

I have always really struggled when it comes to finding the queen, but here?

View attachment 30660
James

Well done. You've got her!

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have always really struggled when it comes to finding the queen, but here?


James

You spoiled it for the beginners!