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
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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
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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.
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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
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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:)
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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