Welcome, Guest

Author Topic: Best time for summer splits?  (Read 1384 times)

Offline Oblio13

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 279
    • Philosophizing with a Hammer
Best time for summer splits?
« on: June 25, 2012, 09:21:41 pm »
In central New Hampshire? I think June is our only really significant flow, so about now perhaps? I was planning on letting them make their own queens. (Mostly because I can't find any locally.)

Offline BrentX

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 156
Re: Best time for summer splits?
« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2012, 02:41:14 pm »
Yes, split as the main flow is ending.  This is what I would do.  It will be about a month before the new queens are laying.  In Delaware July and August are really slow nectare times.  By splitting now the bee population per hive adjusts more quickly to the dearth conditions, and is well prepared for the fall increase in nectar.  Also splitting now reduces the mite load for the new hives.

I did splits last week.  The new hives are building comb and laying in nectar.  Looking good so far.

Offline Oblio13

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 279
    • Philosophizing with a Hammer
Re: Best time for summer splits?
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2012, 06:31:54 am »
Thanks. Several days of rain are forecast, but the weekend is supposed to be warm and sunny, so it'll get done by the first part of July.