January – Acquiring Knowledge and Preparations
January marks the beginning of your urban beekeeping journey. At this stage, invest your time learning about bees and their ecology. Read books, join local beekeeping clubs or take an online course on beekeeping. Some recommended resources include “The Backyard Beekeeper” by Kim Flottum and “Beekeeping for Dummies” by Howland Blackiston.
This is also the perfect time to check city ordinances or HOA rules relating to beekeeping. Ensure you have the needed permissions. As an urban beekeeper, consideration of the neighbors is crucial. Take time to educate them on the importance of bees and address any potential concerns.
February – Ordering Bees and Equipment
In February, start contacting local bee suppliers or reputable online retailers to order your bees. Depending on your location, bees might not be immediately available, but placing your order now secures your bees when the season starts. You can choose between package bees (a box containing worker bees and a queen) or a nucleus hive (a miniature, fully functioning hive).
Simultaneously, order beekeeping equipment, including a hive, a bee suit, gloves, a smoker, hive tools, and frames. Consider starting with a Langstroth hive, which is beginner-friendly and commonly used.
March – Setting up the Beehive
With winter ending and spring about to commence, assemble the ordered beekeeping equipment and prepare to install your bees. Choose a sunny spot, with wind protection and easy access for your hive’s location. Set up the hive stand and position the hive. Remember, the hive entrance should face either the south or east to catch the morning sun.
April – Installing the Bees
By April, your ordered bees should arrive. Install them into the prepared hive. This process involves transferring the bees from their package or nucleus into your hive. After installation, provide feeders filled with sugar water as food supplement until they establish themselves.
May – Regular Inspections
Start regular hive inspections in May. Check for signs of a healthy queen bee, which includes finding young larvae and tracking the queen’s egg-laying pattern. Inspections shouldn’t be overly frequent, ideally every 7–10 days, to minimize disruption to the bees.
June – Assessing Progress, Adding Supers
In June, assess your colony’s growth. If the brood chambers are packed with bees, add a honey super on top of the brood boxes. It gives the bees more space, encouraging them to store honey there instead of the brood chamber.
July – Honey Flow
During July, the honey flow (when nectar is abundantly available) usually occurs. During this month, bees collect and produce honey in surplus. Add extra supers as needed to accommodate the increased honey production.
August – Monitoring Health and Honey Extraction
August assists in assessing hive health after honey flow. Check for diseases and pest infestations like Varroa mites. Also, remove supers filled with ripe honey. Extract the honey using a centrifugal extractor, leaving enough for the bees’ winter feed.
September – Winter Preparations
September signals the end of summer and the beginning of preparations for winter. Remove any excess supers left after harvesting, leaving only the necessary ones for the bees’ winter food stores.
October – Disease Treatment
In October, treat diseases or pest infestations, especially Varroa mites. Apply treatments after honey is harvested to avoid contamination.
November – Final Inspections
In November, perform the final inspection. Ensure the colony has a good population of healthy, young bees, and there’s enough stored honey to last through winter.
December – Limited Activities
Refrain from opening the hive during December. This winter season, bees cluster together for warmth, and any hive interference can make them susceptible to the cold weather. Monitor the hive from outside and remove snow from hive entrances.
There goes your first year timeline for urban beekeeping. Stay resilient, patient, and continue learning. Happy beekeeping!
