Mississippi Beekeeping Calendar

Short, mild rest — colonies may still fly and even rear brood.

• •Heft hives for weight and add fondant or dry sugar only if light.
• •Do a quick check on a warm, calm day; avoid deep disturbance.
• •Keep entrances reduced against robbing and check for small hive beetle.

Build-up starts early. First full inspection and swarm watch begins.

• •Do your first thorough inspection: confirm a laying queen and brood pattern.
• •Reverse or rotate boxes and add space before the colony feels crowded.
• •Take your first varroa mite count and treat if you are above threshold.
• •Feed 1:1 syrup only if stores are low and no nectar is coming in.

Peak nectar flow and peak swarm season — stay ahead of both.

• •Add honey supers before the flow so bees have room to store.
• •Inspect weekly for swarm cells; split or manage strong colonies.
• •Requeen or make increase (splits and nucs) while drones are plentiful.

Heat and drought shut off forage — the riskiest stretch of the year.

• •Watch for robbing; reduce entrances and avoid open feeding.
• •Provide a clean water source near the apiary.
• •Monitor mites closely — populations climb fast now.
• •Feed if stores drop; a light colony can starve even in summer.

Harvest, then get mites down for the winter bees.

• •Pull and extract surplus honey once capped.
• •Do your critical late-season mite treatment as supers come off.
• •Feed 2:1 syrup if fall stores are light heading into the cool months.

Light winter prep for a mild winter.

• •Confirm each colony has adequate stores and a healthy cluster.
• •Ensure top ventilation to shed moisture on damp nights.
• •Keep beetle and pest pressure in check going into winter.