The Beekeeper's Calendar: Month-by-Month Jobs

If you're a beekeeper, whether new or with years of experience, you know that bees don't wait. Each month brings specific tasks, unmissable time slots, and attention that make the difference between a healthy apiary and one in difficulty. beekeeper's calendar It's the most valuable tool you can have: a seasonal compass to do the right things at the right time.

In this comprehensive guide, you'll find everything you need to do, month by month: from winter checks to summer honey extraction, from varroa control to preparing for the new year. A journey that follows the natural rhythm of the bees, respecting the hive's biology and optimizing your work in the apiary.

Are you new to calendaring? Before diving into the calendar, we recommend reading our guide. Beekeeping: How to Get Started and discover how to become a beekeeper.

January: The Productive Silence of Winter

January is the month of quiet. The hive seems to be asleep, but something extraordinary is happening inside: the winter cluster maintains a constant temperature of about 20-25°C inside, consuming the honey reserves accumulated during the summer. The wise beekeeper knows that respect is the key: the less interference, the better.

What to do in the apiary in January

• External inspection of the hives: check that the hives have not been damaged by wind, rain or animals
• Observe the movement: if the bees do not come out on mild days above 10°C, there could be a problem
• Check that the entrances are clear of dead bees (cleaning the step)
• Evaluate the weight of the hives if you have a scale: it gives you an idea of the remaining reserves
• Prepare and tidy up the equipment to be used during the season: frames, combs, honey extractors

What NOT to do in January

• Don't open the hive: the cold can be fatal for the cluster
• Do not administer liquid syrup: bees cannot evaporate water.
• Do not move hives unnecessarily

If reserves seem low, you can step in with the candied fruit for beekeeping: it is the only form of nutrition suitable for the cold months, it does not introduce humidity and does not disturb the winter cluster.

February: The First Signs of Awakening

February brings the very first signs of life. On milder days, above 12-14°C, you'll see the bees emerge for their cleaning flights, a spectacle every beekeeper knows and loves. The queen begins to lay eggs at an increasing rate, and the hive prepares for the great spring awakening.

What to do in the apiary in February

• Observe the cleaning flights: they are a sign that the family is alive and active.
• First light visual check on hottest days (over 14°C)
• Check for incoming pollen: it's the clearest sign that there's brood.
• Give candied fruit if you notice light or inactive families
• Start planning your purchases: hives, frames, swarms or packages of bees

Want to start with new families? Discover the difference between nuclei and bee packages: two different approaches to start the season the right way.

Plants flowering in February

• Hazel (Corylus avellana) – important source of pollen
• Hellebore – among the first nectar sources of the year
• Snowdrops and crocuses in the gardens

Thinking of enriching the environment around your apiary? Read our guide on honey-producing plants for the vegetable garden, garden and balcony: you will discover which species to plant and when to ensure staggered blooms throughout the season.

March: Spring Begins in the Apiary

March is the month of rebirth. Temperatures rise, blooms multiply, and the hive explodes with activity. It's time to reopen the hives and perform the first thorough check of the season. The beekeeper in March is the one who makes or breaks the season: the decisions made now will have consequences for months.

What to do in the apiary in March

• First complete spring check: open the hive during the central hours of days above 15°C
• Check for the queen's presence: regular, compact brood pattern is a sign that everything is fine.
• Count the frames covered with bees to assess the strength of the family.
• Remove frames with old black wax or damaged ones
• Begin replacing old wax to prevent disease
• Install the’beekeeping drinking trough if it is not already present: bees need water to dilute the honey and regulate the temperature
• Enlarge strong hives by adding empty frames

Spring treatments

If you've applied a winter treatment against varroa, March is the time to evaluate its effectiveness. Check the natural shedding of mites on the mesh bottom. If the values are high, treatment with formic acid or other approved products, always in compliance with current regulations.

Plants flowering in March

• Dandelion – a valuable source of pollen and nectar
• Willow – essential for March pollen
• Almond, peach, cherry in some areas of Italy
• Early flowering rosemary

The dandelion honey It is one of the first spring honeys and has truly unique organoleptic characteristics: discover everything about its properties and benefits.

April: Explosion of Life and Risk of Swarming

April is the busiest month of the year for the apiary. The population grows rapidly, blooms abound, and the swarming instinct kicks in. This is the time when the beekeeper must be most present and attentive: a lost swarm is a lost family, and with it, a significant portion of the harvest.

What to do in the apiary in April

• Check hives every 7-10 days for queen cells
• Break the swarming fever: widen the spaces, divide the overly strong families.
• Perform artificial division of hives that show signs of impending swarming
• Place traps to catch any swarms
• Install supers on strong hives when the nest frames are covered for the 80%
• Use the’exclude queen to separate the nest from the honey super and ensure brood-free honey

Have you found a swarm? Before you act, read our complete guide on Bee swarming and how to prevent it.

Artificial swarming in April

If you want to increase the number of families in a controlled way, April is the ideal month for artificial swarming: a technique that allows you to duplicate families without losing spontaneous swarms and maintaining control over the apiary.

Plants flowering in April

• Apple, pear, cherry, plum – essential blossoms for spring honey
• Dandelion in full bloom
• Borage in uncultivated land
• Rosemary and lavender in the Mediterranean areas

May: The Great Spring Harvest

May is the heart of spring for bees. The colonies are at their strongest, the blooms continue nonstop, and the hive is working at a frenetic pace. For the beekeeper, it's the busiest time of year: honey extraction, checks, and nomadic travel to chase the best blooms.

What to do in the apiary in May

• Check the honey supers regularly: when the combs are capped for the 70-80%, it is time to extract the honey.
• Prepare everything you need for honey extraction
• Continue to monitor swarming: May is still a risky month.
• Monitor queen health: A young, productive queen is essential.
• Consider nomadic beekeeping to chase acacia blooms

Do you want to find out everything about Seasonal blooms for beekeeping in ItalyWe've mapped out the main blooms month by month to help you plan your trips and harvests.

Nomadic beekeeping in May

May is the month of great travel.’nomadic beekeeping It allows you to follow the blooms in different geographical areas, maximizing the production of monofloral honey. Acacia, lime, mountain wildflower: each destination has its own calendar.

Plants flowering in May

• Robinia (acacia) – the queen of flowering in Italian spring
• Lime tree in hilly and mountainous areas
• On and on the wild in the fields
• Chestnut in the Apennine areas

June: Honey Extraction and Acacia Honey

June marks the beginning of the honey extraction season. Acacia honey, one of Italy's most beloved honeys, is ready to be extracted. At the same time, the lime tree begins to blossom in the mountainous areas. The June beekeeper is the one with his hands busy at the honey extractor and his mind already focused on the challenges of summer.

What to do in the apiary in June

• Extract acacia honey at the right times
• Prepare the honey extraction laboratory: clean and sterilize all the necessary equipment
• Place new honey supers after honey extraction
• Anti-varroa controls continue: the ideal time for the first summer treatment
• Monitor for wax moths, which become active in hot weather

Before your first honey extraction, read our complete guide: Honey Extraction: Tips and Secrets for Perfect Honey. You'll find everything from uncapping techniques to preservation.

The honey extraction laboratory

If you are thinking of setting up a dedicated space, find out how a professional honey extraction laboratory: from hygiene regulations to essential tools.

June Honeys

The linden honey It's one of the most aromatic and sought-after products in the beekeeping calendar. With its minty scent and calming properties, it's a major player this season.

July: Summer, Heat and Varroa Control

July is the month of intense heat. Bees reduce activity during the hottest hours of the day and increase ventilation in the hive. For beekeepers, July is the crucial time for varroa control: with brood still present but decreasing, treatments are most effective.

What to do in the apiary in July

• Start or complete summer treatment against varroa
• Widen the entrance of the hives to improve ventilation
• Check that food reserves are sufficient
• Check for water: Heat dramatically increases water needs.
• Monitor the brood: Weak families struggle to recover in July
• Prepare the cap wax collected during honey extraction for melting

The fight against varroa is the central theme of July.’formic acid It's the most effective summer treatment: it works on both brood mites and adult bees. Learn how to use it correctly.

Varroa: the hive's number one enemy

Never underestimate varroa. Read our complete guide on Bee diseases: recognizing, preventing, and treating them to get a complete picture of the pathologies that can affect your apiary.

Wax renewal in July

July is also the ideal time for the renewal of the wax in the hive: Remove older, darker frames and replace them with fresh wax sheets. This reduces disease and improves honey quality.

August: The Hardest Month of the Year

August is the most critical month in the beekeeper's calendar. Flowering is minimal, the heat is intense, and bees may experience a period of food shortages, known as the "black summer." The hive empties of older workers without sufficient numbers of new ones emerging, and varroa mites can take advantage of the situation to proliferate.

What to do in the apiary in August

• Monitor food reserves: if the frames are light, it's time to supplement.
• Consider administering a 1:1 syrup (water:sugar) to stimulate brood growth.
• Complete your anti-varroa treatments if you haven't already done so.
• Control and protect your apiary from wasps (Vespula germanica)
• Reduce the entrance of the weakest hives to make it easier to defend them
• Avoid opening the hives during the hottest hours: it increases aggression

August nutrition is delicate. beekeeping syrup It's a fundamental tool for supporting families during times of hardship. Learn how to prepare and administer it correctly. Learn more about it with our guide on how to feed bees sustainably.

August and the replacement of the queens

If you have older or less productive queens, August is the last time to replace them before winter. Discover all the queen bee reproduction methods and choose the one that best suits your situation.

September: Preparations for Winter

September is a month of transition. Temperatures drop, autumn blooms begin (heather, strawberry tree in Southern Italy, and ivy), and the hive begins to prepare for the long winter. The beekeeper has a fundamental task: ensuring that each bee enters winter in the best possible condition.

What to do in the apiary in September

• Remove any supers that are now empty or nearly empty
• Evaluate the strength of each family: at least 8-10 frames covered with bees are the minimum for a good winter.
• Check your reserves: each hive should have at least 15-18 kg of honey to overwinter.
• Complete the last anti-varroa treatment of the active season
• Reunite weak families rather than trying to winter undersized families
• Treat any illnesses before winter closure

September's nutrition

If reserves are insufficient, September is the time to apply heavy feeding (a 2:1 sugar:water syrup) to allow the bees to process and cap the reserves before the cold weather sets in. Don't wait until October: lower temperatures slow the bees' ability to process the syrup.

Autumn blooms in September

The heather honey It's a niche product with intense flavors and exceptional properties. September in Italy also yields strawberry trees in some southern areas, as well as ivy and phacelia if sown early.

October: Autumn Anti-Varroa Treatments

October is the month for autumn treatments. With brood significantly reduced or absent, oxalic acid treatments, the most effective and natural treatment, reach their peak effectiveness. Improper timing of this treatment can compromise the hive's winter health.

What to do in the apiary in October

• Treat with oxalic acid when brood is absent or almost absent.
• Choose the most suitable method: dripping, sublimation or sugar solution
• Close or reduce entrances to protect against wasps and predators
• Remove queen excluder if still present
• Check the physical condition of the hive: roof, floor, walls
• Add a protective mesh to the entrance to prevent mice.

Oxalic acid treatment

Oxalic acid is the treatment of choice for autumn. It works by contact and is effective at 95% on adult bees. The ideal time is when the brood is below the 5% of the frames. Read our guide on acids and anti-varroa treatments to choose the product that best suits your situation.

Honey to be extracted in October

The strawberry tree honey, Bitter, unique, and rare, it is produced mainly in Sardinia and some areas along the Tyrrhenian coast. If you have hives in these areas, October is the harvest season.

November: Season End

November is the month of closure. The hive gradually enters a semi-hibernation state, the queen dramatically slows her egg-laying, and the cluster forms. For the beekeeper, it's time to take stock of the season, protect the hives, and start thinking about the coming year.

What to do in the apiary in November

• Verify that all anti-varroa treatments have been completed
• Check that each hive has sufficient reserves for the winter
• Protect your hives from humidity: it's winter's number one enemy.
• Insulate and protect hives from the wind with panels or strategic placement
• Clean and store the honey extractor and all the summer equipment
• Consider installing smart beehives with weight and temperature sensors: allows you to monitor the hive without opening it during the winter

The operculum wax and the hive products

November is the perfect month to work the operculum wax Collected during honey extraction. It's the most valuable wax the hive produces: melt it and save it for cosmetics, candles, or new matchsticks.

Discover all the beehive products besides honey in our guide on the work of bees between collecting pollen and hive products.

December: Silence, Reflection, and Planning

December is the month of productive silence. The hives are closed, the bees are clustered, and the beekeeper can finally take a breather. But winter leisure time is also the most precious time to study, plan, and prepare to perform better in the coming season.

What to do in December (in the apiary and outside)

• Visually check the hives from the outside once a week
• Provide candy to families who need it on mild days
• Attend refresher courses and beekeeping conferences
• Study: Learn about varroa, bee genetics, and organic beekeeping
• Order materials and equipment for next season
• Prepare the apiary register and update it with the year's observations
• Plan new locations, nomadic movements, queen replacements

If you want to learn more about bee genetics, Buckfast, Ligustica, Carnica lines, and more, December is the perfect time to do so. The genetic choices you make now will influence your families for years to come.

Organic beekeeping: a goal for the new year?

Thinking about converting your apiary to organic? December is the time to get informed and plan. Find out the rules.’organic beekeeping in Italy and if it's right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Beekeeper's Calendar

When do the hives open after winter?

The first spring check is generally done between late February and March, on days with temperatures above 14-15°C and no wind. It's not the date on the calendar that guides you, but the weather conditions and the bees' behavior.

When is anti-varroa treatment done?

Varroa control occurs at two main times: summer (July-August) with formic acid or other authorized products, and autumn (October-November) with oxalic acid when brood is absent. Autumn treatment is the most important of the year.

When is honey extracted?

Honey is extracted when the combs are capped for at least 70-80% of the original weight. The main periods are spring (May-June for acacia and spring wildflower honey) and summer (July for lime and summer wildflower honey). Do not extract uncapped combs: the honey's moisture content will be too high and it will ferment.

How do bees feed in winter?

In winter, only the candied fruit for beekeeping, placed directly on the upper frame. Liquid syrup is contraindicated below 10°C because it introduces humidity into the hive and the bees cannot evaporate it.

How often should a hive be checked during the season?

During the active season (April-September), checks are performed every 7-10 days during critical periods such as spring swarming, and every 2-3 weeks during quieter periods. In winter, avoid opening the hive and instead perform external visual inspections.