Mathieu DOMECQ
Rédacteur en chef de l’API du mois et du Blog
In March, French beekeeping enters a decisive phase. While the media reports annually on winter colony losses and growing concerns in the beekeeping world, work in the apiary resumes in earnest. After several months of discreet monitoring and limited intervention, it is time for initial assessments and important technical decisions.
This month, we will focus in particular on the spring inspection, a key step in assessing the condition of colonies at the end of winter, as well as cleaning and sanitising hives in the event of losses. These practices, which are essential but often underestimated, enable beekeepers to start afresh on a sound footing and largely determine the success of the coming beekeeping season.
Tasks of the month
In March, life in the hive and the beekeeper’s work gradually resume. Although nature still seems to be asleep at times, the bees are already active and searching for the first sources of pollen. The colony slowly becomes more dynamic, marking a pivotal period that requires careful monitoring. Here are the main tasks to be carried out in the apiary during this month:
Monitor the brood/reserve balance: Observing all the frames allows you to assess the colony’s dynamics. A well-developed colony generally has a balance of between three and five brood frames and three to five food frames (honey and pollen). If the reserves appear insufficient, a supplement such as Apiinvert® syrup can be considered. If an insulating partition was installed at the end of winter, it should be moved or removed when it is no longer necessary, particularly when the colony lacks space to develop.
Supporting the resumption of egg-laying: A moderate supply of Apiinvert® syrup can stimulate this resumption and promote the gradual increase in brood. This stage is strategic: the eggs laid at this time will give forager bees around forty days later. It is therefore essential to plan ahead in order to have a sufficient population during the major spring honey flows, particularly those from rapeseed and acacia.
Getting started in beekeeping: March marks the real start of the first beekeeping season. It is the ideal time to learn from a teaching apiary or an experienced beekeeper, and to reserve your swarms, which are generally available between April and May. Hives must already be ready to welcome colonies: cleaned, protected with suitable paint and equipped with waxed frames.
This month’s honey plants
Willow (nectar and pollen), dandelion (pollen and nectar), rapeseed (nectar), fruit trees (pollen).
