Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: Debidude on January 12, 2014, 09:25:44 pm

Title: Strain best suited for coastal SC
Post by: Debidude on January 12, 2014, 09:25:44 pm

Ive been away from the apiary for over 25 years and excited to get started back up.  There is a lot to read up and catch up on.  I am wondering if there is a general consensus as to the best strain to start new colonies with this spring here in coastal South Carolina. I was happy with my Italian colonies that would thrive in Delaware and Maryland.  Thanks!

Title: Re: Strain best suited for coastal SC
Post by: Slowmodem on January 12, 2014, 09:33:48 pm

Welcome and enjoy your stay!   :)

I'd stay away from those Africanized bees.   :o

Title: Re: Strain best suited for coastal SC
Post by: iddee on January 12, 2014, 09:51:51 pm

There are no Africanized bees in S.C.

As many commercial keeps as there are wintering bees along the coast of S.C., most all of which use Italians, you may as well use Italians. They will be with a couple of queen replacements anyway.

PS. Welcome to the forum. Hope you like it here.

Title: Re: Strain best suited for coastal SC
Post by: kebee on January 13, 2014, 07:43:02 am

 Welcome Debidude , glad you found us here on the forum, a great place to get your question ask and answer and enjoy the fun also.

Ken

Title: Re: Strain best suited for coastal SC
Post by: riverbee on January 13, 2014, 11:14:42 am

can't give advice on your question, but would think as iddee suggested. just wanted to welcome you to the forum!

Title: Re: Strain best suited for coastal SC
Post by: Perry on January 13, 2014, 06:59:32 pm

Glad you found us. Welcome.  ;)

Title: Re: Strain best suited for coastal SC
Post by: apisbees on January 13, 2014, 10:57:08 pm

Welcome to the forum 25 years away from the bees. the mites where only newly introduced at that time. What made you take a break? If you don't mind me asking.

Title: Re: Strain best suited for coastal SC
Post by: Debidude on January 14, 2014, 01:44:58 pm

Thanks for the replies!  I got hooked on beekeeping while taking a course in college.  Lived in a rural area with wide open spaces and dove head first into a half dozen hives.  truly enjoyed it.  Moved on to graduate education, a couple of moves to big cities and lack of time kept me away, but I'd never lost interest.  Wanted to start up again a few years ago but electively stayed away over the impression of the risk of parasite and hives disease that didn't seem to be such a factor 30 years ago.

I plan to start with a couple 8 frame hives, a nuc or two and see if I still enjoy it as much as I used too.  Don't know if its practical, but thinking about concentrating on mostly comb honey.  KNow of any good sources to read up comb honey production?  Thanks!

Title: Re: Strain best suited for coastal SC
Post by: riverbee on January 14, 2014, 03:28:44 pm

i have HONEY IN THE COMB written by eugene e. killion, good book.

also, this is how i do some comb honey, go to the first post:
Cut Comb Honey Production (http://www.worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/index.php/topic,493.0.html)