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Author Topic: When does nectar turn into honey?  (Read 4420 times)

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Offline Jen

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When does nectar turn into honey?
« on: March 08, 2015, 03:06:29 pm »
Been learning about stacking honey supers. I was briefly into my mother hive yesterday to see if the top medium super has brought the queen up yet. Sure enough the middle three frames have capped brood. But the rest of the frames are nicely filling up with nectar.

Last year due to the severe drought here in California, my bees were barely able to fill one medium with nectar and hummingbird food to get them thru the winter. We are still in a drought, but I think we are better off this year as far as blooms and nectar.

My question is: When does nectar turn into honey? Is it honey as soon as the nectar is capped? or is it capped nectar that has to season a little more?

I am fresh out of mediums and frames/foundation. So I'm trying to figure how many extra med supers I will need on hand during extraction time.

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Offline iddee

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Re: When does nectar turn into honey?
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2015, 07:18:47 pm »
It is honey when it is capped. It may even be honey before it is capped, but with a bit too much moisture content.
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Offline Jen

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Re: When does nectar turn into honey?
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2015, 07:27:27 pm »
Okay Thanks Iddee! We are on a huge flow these last couple weeks, have to keep my eye on the supers.

IMAGINE THAT!!  :D
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Offline pistolpete

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Re: When does nectar turn into honey?
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2015, 02:55:52 am »
about time you had some nectar flows Jen.  Bees generally cap honey whey it's reached about 17 or 18 % water content.  I think you can call it honey at around 20% moisture.
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Offline Jen

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Re: When does nectar turn into honey?
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2015, 08:50:49 pm »
Pete- "about time you had some nectar flows Jen.

     No Kidding Right! and Thanks  ;D
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