Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: greenbtree on April 11, 2012, 09:43:02 am

Title: Hard freeze after warm Spring
Post by: greenbtree on April 11, 2012, 09:43:02 am
Any data on what a hard freeze does to nectar flows in the Spring?  Can we expect a dip in nectar flows at this point?  Would it be severe enough that we should put syrup on?

JC
Title: Re: Hard freeze after warm Spring
Post by: AllenF on April 11, 2012, 11:15:59 am
It will just take out a little of the blooms, the ones that get bite are about to open up.  It should not slow them down that much.  I am more worried about the garden.   Everything is up now except for the okra.    My tomatoes have little ones now.   Frost is my worry.   Bees will be fine.

Title: Re: Hard freeze after warm Spring
Post by: mikecva on April 11, 2012, 12:19:55 pm
Our nectar flow in this part of Virginia does not normally start until about June 1 or very late May. This year all bets are off. The frost has done very little damage to the fruit trees as the weather needs to be below freezing for about 4-6 hours. The flowering trees have already opened so little damage there except for this unusually high winds we are having now. The bees should just honker down in either case. -Mike
Title: Re: Hard freeze after warm Spring
Post by: SEEYA on April 11, 2012, 08:32:29 pm
Don't know about Iowa. Michigan took a hit.
Highs in the 50's today. Snow, freezing temps yesterday, Freeze warning tonight.
I have heard of 50 - 70% loss of the tart cherry crop, with some areas forecasting a 90% loss. The Choke Cherry trees are at about 50% bloom, but it really isn't warm enough for the bees to forage much. The few apple trees I checked had about 1/4 of the buds turning brown. I think the maples were all done in March.

Gloom, despair and agony....... :-D Keep your chin up! (it makes a better target :roll:)
Title: Re: Hard freeze after warm Spring
Post by: greenbtree on April 11, 2012, 10:32:07 pm
It was down to 24 here last night for at least 3 - 4 hours.  With wind.  I wrapped my best 5 pie cherry trees in sheets tied with twine.  (They look like giant lollypops :-D)  Don't know if it helped, figured it couldn't hurt.  Otherwise, I saw less damage than I expected.  Some more sensitive plants like the elderberry might have to start over, but many others seem relatively unaffected.

JC