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sir. porky · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 59 Location: west of Ireland

fello bee keepers has any pure Irish honey been harvested this year?
we have yet to do our final harvest this year, but our expectations are very low oweing to the very wet july and also august, however we did harvest a few kgs of spring honey in june. No honey but a large increase in bees we started the year with 8 colonys and now have 18 so fingers crossed for better weather next year, let us know how you have faired this year.

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1163 Location: Campile. Wexford

It seems that yields are low to very low all over this year. I will not take any honey this year and will probably have to feed my two colonies to get them through the winter. My bees were swarms taken this year and i will try to get them strong for next. Good luck.
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wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1163 Location: Campile. Wexford

Thank the Gods for Ivy. I never appreciated this plant until now. After a dismal year, and being prepared to have to feed tons of sugar to get my girls through the winter. Along comes the Ivy nectar flow, and with good weather the hives are near to full. Brilliant Very Happy

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wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1163 Location: Campile. Wexford

Continuing on from the last post. Today is alot cooler than of late and no activity is noticed around the apiary. My bees have gorged themselves over the last month on the Ivy which still continues to flower. A mate was able to extract two supers and got an extra 50 lbs of Ivy honey for his efforts. Have any of you tried Ivy honey?.
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MrsL · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject:

My bees are in for the winter now; I took no honey as not a good year for them, so left them to it. Will be feeding, though I think.

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