When does the fall honey ... - Ask Extension
When does the fall honey flow begin in east Tenn and when does it end? What are the major plants involved in this flow?
Knowledgebase
When does the fall honey ... #149728
Asked August 28, 2013, 8:13 AM EDT
When does the fall honey flow begin in east Tenn and when does it end? What are the major plants involved in this flow?
Knox County Tennessee
Expert Response
Here is a link to the major honey bee forage plants that occur in East Tennessee: http://honeybeenet.gsfc.nasa.gov/Honeybees/ForageRegion.php?StReg=TN_11
You can see the highlighted rows are 'significant' honey plants, meaning that a consistently large amount of honey is produced from these plants. Asters and goldenrods make up the majority of the 'fall flow'. These will flower from mid-summer through November.
If you are a beekeeper, allow me to offer a word of advice. The East Tennessee 'fall flow' is not significant enough to provide an appreciable amount of honey for harvest nor substantial enough to provide adequate food for you overwintering bees (assuming you harvested honey in the summer). Remember to feed your bees sugar syrup at this time and leave all honey they collect during the 'fall flow' for themselves. Hive pest and other colony issues are also best dealt with at this time. Remember to treat for varroa mites and watch out for hive beetle take over. Combine weak colonies and get your colonies ready for winter.
You can see the highlighted rows are 'significant' honey plants, meaning that a consistently large amount of honey is produced from these plants. Asters and goldenrods make up the majority of the 'fall flow'. These will flower from mid-summer through November.
If you are a beekeeper, allow me to offer a word of advice. The East Tennessee 'fall flow' is not significant enough to provide an appreciable amount of honey for harvest nor substantial enough to provide adequate food for you overwintering bees (assuming you harvested honey in the summer). Remember to feed your bees sugar syrup at this time and leave all honey they collect during the 'fall flow' for themselves. Hive pest and other colony issues are also best dealt with at this time. Remember to treat for varroa mites and watch out for hive beetle take over. Combine weak colonies and get your colonies ready for winter.
