Basic knowledge of when and how to harvest honey

   Although you have your honey storage container and all the proper beekeeper accessories, are you familiar with the honey harvesting process? Knowing when and how to harvest honey is the key to successful beekeeping, but this is easier said than done, especially for novice beekeepers.

   A simple fact is that the window for perfect honey collection is very narrow. If you harvest too early, you may harvest uncured nectar instead of honey, which will deteriorate. However, if the harvest is too late, you will risk that the honey is too thick to harvest. Even if you perfectly arrange the harvest time, how you harvest is still a small problem.

   Let's learn when and how to harvest honey!

When is the best time to collect honey?

   Generally speaking, the best time to harvest honey in Australia is from February to March, because the flow of nectar gradually decreases in summer. You can determine the perfect harvest time by paying attention to the following factors:

1. Check your hive frequently

   The best tool in any beekeeping kit is simple observation. As summer approaches, put on your safety armor, check your hive every two to three weeks, and pay attention to at least 80% of the sealed frames. Once the last major nectar flow in the summer ends, bees will begin to consume more honey than they produce. In other words, your employees will be busy enjoying the fruits of their own labor and will not let you get more products!

2. Be patient with your bees

   A complete beehive does not necessarily mean that honey is ready to be harvested. Before your honey becomes honey, your bees must first flap the hive with their wings to speed up the evaporation process, so as to dehydrate the harvested nectar. Once the nectar thickens into honey, the bees seal it with beeswax. Only in this way can honey be harvested.

   To avoid early harvest, take the frames out of the beekeeping area and put them face down and shake them gently. If honey drips from the honeycomb, the bees have not sealed it, which means that they have not completed the process, which means that it is not ready.

3. Learn your beekeeping details

   By familiarizing yourself with the basic principles of honeycombs, your honey harvest will become easier. Your area will determine the climate that affects your bee farm. In cooler areas, especially in the South Island, you need to leave more honey in the hive to let your bees survive in winter. This climate may also affect the local flora pollinated by bees, which will affect the taste and consistency of honey.

How do I harvest honey?

   Once you know the time is right to harvest honey, the appropriate technology will provide you with as much of the best canned honey as possible. The following is a step-by-step procedure for harvesting honey:

• 1. When opening the hive, please use a smoke blower to keep the bees warm.
• 2. Use the honeycomb tool to pry the frame loose, because your bees will try to seal them in place with some strengthening wax. If the frame contains at least 80% of the capping honeycomb, a soft bristle brush or a mild hair dryer can be used to remove the bees.
• 3. Cover the frame with traps or sheets to prevent bees from reproducing on it, and isolate it indoors before harvesting.
• 4. Cover opener or scraper can be used to remove the top wax of sealing honeycomb.
• 5. After the honey is unsealed, the extractor uses centrifugal force to separate the honey from the honeycomb. The extractor is available in both electric and manual versions, allowing separated honey to collect in their pots, where it can be discharged through the honey door.
• 6. After separation, you need to filter the honey through the sieve to remove the last bit of wax.
• 7. Once you filter your honey, you can jar it and enjoy it!

   With a little practice, you will become a honey expert!

   It takes time to understand your bees and bee farms, but after several harvests, you will have a deep understanding of when your frame is suitable for harvesting and the appearance and taste of your honey. Use Zhuoyu's beekeeping supplies, honey storage containers and beekeeping equipment to prepare for successful beekeeping. Contact Zhuoyu's beekeeping professionals or shop online!

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