Bee Ready: July Beekeeping Update Summer in Full Swing

Welcome back to Bee Ready.

After such a wet and unsettled start to the year, June certainly gave us a change of pace.

In fact, some parts of the country saw temperatures climb high enough for heat warnings to be issued, which is probably not what many of us expected after the stop-start spring we had. It was certainly nice to finally see some prolonged sunshine, but those hotter days brought their own challenges for both beekeepers and bees alike.

If you spent time around your hives during the warmer spells, you may have noticed increased activity at the entrance, with bees working hard to regulate temperatures inside the colony. Some colonies seemed to take the heat in their stride, while others were noticeably busier collecting water and fanning at the hive entrance to help keep brood conditions stable.

The hot weather also provided plenty of opportunities for foraging. After months of waiting for more settled conditions, many colonies finally had the chance to make the most of longer flying hours and improved forage availability.

How did your bees cope with the heat? Did you notice a surge in activity during the warmer days, or were your colonies already working at full pace before the temperatures arrived?

As we move into July, the hope is that summer continues to deliver favourable conditions without becoming too extreme. A good balance of sunshine, occasional rain, and plenty of forage can make this one of the most productive and enjoyable months of the beekeeping year.

The season reaches its peak

By July, many colonies are at or close to their strongest point of the year.

The hive entrances are often a constant stream of activity from early morning until late evening. Workers are out collecting nectar and pollen whenever conditions allow, while inside the hive thousands more bees are caring for brood, processing nectar, and keeping everything running smoothly.

This is usually the point in the season where the hard work of spring really begins to show. Colonies that came through winter well and made good use of the warmer weather in May and June should now be thriving.

There is something incredibly satisfying about opening a hive in July and seeing frame after frame covered in healthy, active bees.

Have your colonies reached their peak yet, or do you think they still have more growing to do?

The honey harvest begins to come into view

For many beekeepers, July is when thoughts start turning towards honey.

If the weather has been favourable and forage has been plentiful, supers may be filling nicely by now. There is always a sense of excitement when you lift a frame and feel the weight of what the bees have been working towards all season.

Of course, every year is different. Some areas will have seen excellent nectar flows, while others may still be waiting for conditions to improve.

How are your supers looking this year? Are they filling well, or are the bees keeping you guessing?

Whatever the situation, July is often a good reminder that beekeeping rarely follows a script. Every colony, every apiary, and every season has its own story.

Keeping an eye on colony health

With strong populations and busy hives, it is easy to focus entirely on honey production, but July is also a good time to continue paying close attention to colony health.

Strong brood patterns, healthy-looking bees, and a calm temperament within the hive are all encouraging signs. Regular inspections help you spot anything unusual before it becomes a larger problem.

At this stage of the season, colonies can still change surprisingly quickly. Staying observant often makes all the difference.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply slow down during an inspection and take a proper look at what the bees are telling you.

Helping bees through the hottest days

If July brings more hot weather, there are a few simple things worth keeping in mind.

Making sure colonies have access to a nearby water source can be incredibly helpful. Bees use water not only for themselves but also to help regulate the temperature inside the hive.

You may also notice more bearding during particularly warm evenings. Seeing large numbers of bees gathered outside the hive can look alarming at first, but often it is simply the colony helping to reduce congestion and keep temperatures under control.

The bees have been managing summer heat for a very long time. Most of the time, they know exactly what they are doing.

Taking time to enjoy the apiary

One thing July reminds us is just how quickly the beekeeping season moves.

It feels like only yesterday we were checking food stores, watching the weather forecast, and waiting for the first signs of spring activity. Now the colonies are booming, flowers are in abundance, and the apiary feels alive from dawn until dusk.

With so much happening, it is easy to get caught up in jobs and inspections. But July is also a good month to simply spend a few minutes standing by the hives and enjoying the sound of a healthy colony at work.

Those moments are often what keep us coming back year after year.

A summer fact from the hive

A single teaspoon of honey represents the lifetime work of roughly twelve worker bees.

When you think about the thousands of flowers visited and countless hours spent foraging, it makes every jar of honey feel that little bit more special.

Looking ahead to August

As July begins to draw to a close, thoughts gradually start turning towards late-summer management.

August is often a month of reflection and preparation. Honey harvesting may be underway, nectar flows can begin to slow, and attention starts shifting towards keeping colonies strong for the months ahead.

We'll cover all of that in next month's Bee Ready.

Stay Bee Ready this July

July is one of those months that reminds us why we enjoy beekeeping so much.

The colonies are busy, the hives are thriving, and hopefully the weather is finally giving the bees every opportunity to make the most of the season.

Keep your inspections steady, enjoy the warmer days, and take a moment to appreciate everything your colonies have achieved since those first tentative flights back in spring.

How has your season been so far? Have your bees exceeded expectations, or have they surprised you along the way?

Until next time, stay Bee Ready with Actiasbee.

And before you go, this month's Bee Ready joke:

What do you call a bee that falls down a hill?

A stumble bee.