Month by month

Beekeeping in May

When you do open up in May, you are looking for queen cells first, then space, then eggs.

Can I inspect my bees in May?

Yes, every seven days without fail: a full inspection needs 15 °C or more, dry, and wind under 22 km/h, between 9am and 6pm. In cooler weather a quick look (from 12 °C, dry and calm) still lets you check for queen cells at the bottom bars.

Jobs for May

• Peak swarm month. Seven-day checks. A charged queen cell means act today, not next week.
• Keep ahead on supers. Oilseed rape honey sets hard in the comb: extract it as soon as it is capped.
• Clip and mark new queens. Note what you saw: eggs, larvae, capped brood, stores, temper.
• Check the bait hive. Keep a nuc box in the car for swarm calls.