When Should You Order Bees For the 2018 Season?

When Should You Order Bees For the 2018 Season?

Introduction:

• The hype around bees has been enormous this year and it’s left a large group of people wondering what their next step should be. Where do I get a beehive? Where in the world do I go to buy bees? Do I go to a beekeeper? Can I buy bees from a stranger at the grocery store? When is it okay for me to purchase them? Let’s answer all of these questions for the upcoming 2018 season! If this is the first article you’re reading in this series and you would like to start from the beginning, click HERE

Where do I buy a Beehive?

• I’ve seen this question on the internet a lot lately. What type of hive should I buy? Where do I buy it from? The simple answer is that you can buy any hive that catches your eye. The only variables with beehives are the 1) Type of hive, and 2) the type of wood. Most commercial beekeepers use standard pine boxes. We’ll get more in depth with this in another article so stay tuned!

Where can bees be purchased?

• I share the opinion that a majority of long time bee experts hold and that’s that bees should be purchased from the area they will be harvesting in. You want your bees to be used to the plants and flora around you so they are not confused about their surroundings. I recommend that you contact a local beekeeper or apiary to buy your bees. Local bees are not only cheaper but it supports your local businesses. Who knows, maybe you can turn your purchase into a mentorship so when you have a bee related problem you have someone to talk to! On the chance that all of your locals are grouches, you can order bees on the internet from multiple sites. (I’m not going to list any of them because I haven’t ever ordered bees online.) Make sure you contact them and make sure they are okay with shipping long distance. Also, don’t forget that your area could have strict agriculture and livestock laws. Read up on all of your local laws before making a purchase!

When should I buy bees for my first Beehive?

• Beekeeping usually starts after the last freeze of Winter or the start of spring when all of the nectar producing plants are rising up from their slumber. The ideal time to start a hive is at the start of spring when you have new growth on plants and bees are no longer dormant. Once you’ve purchased your bees from a local apiary or beekeeper, it shouldn’t take long for them to become acquainted with their new home.

Conclusion:

• Don’t be afraid to join a local beekeeping club or organization to educate yourself on the in’s and outs of beekeeping. Education is key when you are messing with high value creature such as bees. The older generation of beekeepers love lending a helping hand so don’t be shy.

If you enjoyed this post and found it informative, feel free the check out the first post in the series of an ongoing series HERE If you happen to have a question about a specific topic I’ll be happy to help if I can!