One of the most frequently asked questions on our courses is when is the best time to start beekeeping? The answer is as soon in the season as possible, but like most things it may not be that simple.
Probably the most difficult part of beekeeping is getting the bees through winter and so the later in the season you start, the weaker your colony is likely to be going into winter and the more likely it is that it will die out and the beginner will lose heart and stop beekeeping.
If possible, the best thing to do is order your nucleus (starter colony) of bees from a reputable supplier at the end of the season before you want to start. That way you will get what is known as an overwintered nuc which will enable you to hit the ground running as early as possible in the new season.
If you are not able to get an overwintered nuc then try to start as early as possible in the season with a summer nuc. These will usually be available from about the middle of May onwards in the UK. If you do this you will get a colony with plenty of time to grow and establish itself and you may even get some honey in the first year,
It is a bad idea for beginners to start anytime after about the beginning to middle of July (in the UK) as any colony introduced at this stage will almost certainly require assistance to establish itself before winter. If in doubt remember the old beekeeping rhyme:
A swam in May is worth a load of hay.
A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon.
A swarm in July isn’t worth a fly.
The same could be said to apply to nucs!!
If you want to see what to do with your nuc when you get it then please have a look at our YouTube video Putting The Nuc Into The Hive
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