Season
This is the year's most decisive preparation period. The autumn flow has ended, the weather has begun to cool, and the colony prepares for the entry into winter. This is …
1
Deep Wintering2
Late Winter / First Stirring3
Early Spring4
Spring Build-up5
Swarming Season6
Main Nectar Flow7
End of Flow8
Summer Dearth9
Autumn Flow10
This monthWinter Preparation
Hive status
In this period the hive is turned into a winter fortress. Every physical intervention — volume, ventilation, insulation — is done in this period, because through winter …
Population
In this period the colony comes down to its winter population, and the quality of this population matters more than its number. The bee that will see out the winter is …
Inspection
The inspections of this period are the last openings of the hive until spring. Every inspection is an audit, and the decision made cannot be undone — winter does not …
Feeding
This is the period in which autumn feeding is completed. Feeding has a deadline, and that deadline is within this period; feeding that is late is no better than not …
Pests & diseases
This is the last window of the varroa battle and the period in which the first defence against winter pests such as mice is set up. No treatment missed in this period …
Nectar & pollen
In this period the natural source largely ends. The remaining few sources are still important for the colony's last pollen need and the last fresh stores entering …
Harvest
This is, as a rule, not a harvest period. The remaining honey is the winter share and touching it puts the winter at risk. But in some special cases a limited or …
Equipment
This is the period in which the prepared winter equipment is fitted and the hive is physically prepared for winter. If preparation was not done in the previous periods, …
Apiary care
In this period the apiary site is prepared for winter conditions. The decisions made about location in this period cannot be changed in winter; so this is the period in …
Learning
This is the period in which the wintering-entry inventory is drawn up and the foundation of the year ahead is laid. The decisions determining the season's outcome are …