Beekeeping Tasks Throughout the Seasons

Beekeeping in Finland is all about gearing up for each season since the weather and surroundings really affect what our bees need and how they act.

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When spring rolls around, it’s time for us to give the bees a little extra food, as flowers start to pop up and nature shakes off the winter chill. This is a great chance for us to make sure our bees have enough grub. With the warmer weather, our bees are buzzing around looking for nectar and pollen to stock up their hives. It’s super important for us to keep an eye on how healthy they are during this time and to step in with some extra food if needed, because a well-fed hive is key for pollination and whipping up that sweet honey.

Summer focuses on honey extraction and hive management. We usually harvest honey in the warmer months when the bees are most active and the flowers are in full bloom, ensuring a rich supply of nectar. During this time, we closely monitor our hives for signs of health and productivity, carefully managing the colonies to optimize honey production. We often assess the frames for capped honey. In our case, the frames must be covered at least 2/3 before we collect them. This means that the honey we collect is not prone to molds or fermentation. Depending on how healthy or populated the colony is, we can actually harvest around 17-20kgs per layer of our bee nest.

In the fall, getting ready for winter means not just feeding the bees and making sure the hives are cozy for the cold, but also checking everything out to spot any issues that could pop up. We replace the honey we collected with a commercial bee syrup we buy from beekeepers association. This food replacement lasts the whole winter, we ensure that there will be enough food for the whole colony. This careful steps helps keep the bees healthy and prepped for the rough weather coming their way. When winter hits, keeping an eye on the hives is super important; we need to check to see if the bees are active and make sure there’s enough airflow to avoid moisture buildup, which can really hurt the bees’ chances of making it through.