Iowa Beekeeping Calendar

Long, cold winter — the cluster stays sealed in.

• •Do not open the hive; heft from behind to judge weight.
• •Add fondant or dry sugar on top if the colony feels light.
• •Keep upper ventilation open to vent moisture; clear the entrance of snow.

Build-up begins with maple and early bloom.

• •First full inspection on a warm day; confirm a laying queen.
• •Take your first varroa count and treat if above threshold.
• •Feed 1:1 syrup and pollen if stores are low or spring is cold.

Dandelion, fruit, and locust bloom with heavy swarm pressure.

• •Reverse boxes, add space, and super before the flow.
• •Inspect weekly for swarm cells; split or manage crowded colonies.
• •Requeen or make nucs while drones are abundant.

Peak nectar flow — clover, basswood, and wildflower.

• •Keep supers ahead of the bees so they never run out of room.
• •Ventilate for summer heat.
• •Monitor mites; do not let them build under the honey.

Pull the crop, then protect the winter bees.

• •Remove and extract capped honey.
• •Do your critical late-season mite treatment as supers come off — this protects the winter bees.
• •Assess stores and start planning fall feeding.

Goldenrod flow, then winter prep.

• •Let bees pack the goldenrod and aster flow for winter.
• •Feed 2:1 syrup to reach winter weight (roughly 60–90 lb of stores).
• •Install entrance reducers, mouse guards, and upper ventilation; combine weak colonies.