Spring is Buzzing: Your Essential Charlotte, NC Beekeeping Prep Guide
- jorders100
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
If you’ve been shivering through this past month, you aren’t alone. We have had a very cold January here in the Carolinas, but I have some fantastic news for you.
Spring is knocking on the door! Looking at the forecast for Charlotte, NC starting next week, we are about to see a major shift. The temperatures are climbing, and that big transition from winter freeze to spring thaw is officially beginning. For us humans, that means it’s time to break out the light jackets. But for our bees? This means it’s go-time.
As we prepare our apiaries, managing dozens of hives between our Huntersville and Charlotte locations, I wanted to share exactly what we are doing right now to get ready. Whether you are a seasoned pro or looking to start your first hive, this guide will make sure you are prepared for the season ahead.
The Weather Shift: What It Means for Your Bees
Beekeeping is all about being in tune with nature. Next week’s higher temperatures are going to act as a wake-up call for the environment. We expect to see the local flora waking up immediately.
In the Charlotte area, you’ll likely see Maple and Elm trees begin to blossom very soon. This is huge! It means the first major sources of nectar and pollen will be available for your girls to forage on.
When the sun comes out and the thermometer rises, the cluster breaks. The queen, sensing the incoming resources, will ramp up her egg-laying production significantly. The colony is about to expand rapidly to take advantage of the spring bloom, and as their keeper, you need to be just as ready as they are.
Your Spring Checklist: The "Must-Haves"
You don’t want to be caught scrambling for equipment when the nectar starts flowing. Here is what needs to be on your radar this week.
1. Two Empty Honey Supers Per Hive
This is the most critical piece of advice I can give you right now. If you have a strong colony that has successfully made it through the winter, they are going to need space, and they are going to need it fast.
We recommend having at least two empty honey supers ready for every strong colony.
Why two? Because when the nectar flow hits, it hits hard. Bees need space to cure that nectar into honey. If they run out of room, two things happen: they stop making honey (which means less for you!), or they feel crowded and decide to swarm.
Swarming is natural, but it means half your bees leave the hive, taking your potential honey harvest with them. Get those supers painted, assembled, and ready to stack!
2. Check Your Woodenware
Take a walk out to your apiary. How did the winter treat your boxes? Check for any rot or damage that might have occurred during the wet, cold months. You want to make sure your bottom boards are solid and your covers are weather-tight. If you find any issues, swap that equipment out now before the population explodes and the boxes become too heavy to lift easily.
3. Monitor Food Stores
Even though the trees are starting to blossom, we aren't out of the woods yet. February and March can be tricky. The bees are becoming more active and burning more energy, but the nectar flow might not be consistent yet.
On these warm days, take a quick peek (don't keep the hive open too long!) to make sure they still have honey stores. If they feel light, you may need to provide some supplemental feed until the spring flow is fully established.
Growing Your Apiary: The Time is Now
Are you dreaming of expanding your apiary? Or perhaps you unfortunately lost a colony over the winter and need to replace it? Now is the time to secure your bees.
In the beekeeping world, we operate on nature's schedule, not ours. Because the weather is warming up, demand for nucleus colonies (often called "nucs") and bee packages is skyrocketing.
What is a Nuc?
If you are new to this, a nucleus colony is essentially a mini-hive. It usually contains five frames of bees, a laying queen, brood (babies), honey, and pollen. It’s the easiest way to start a hive because the colony is already established and working together.
We produce and sell nucs right here at Queen's Orders Honey.
We are currently taking orders to reserve them for the season. If you plan to grow your apiary, please do not wait until April to ask for bees! They are often sold out by then. Securing your order now ensures you get your bees early enough to catch the main nectar flow.
Why Local Bees and Honey Matter
You might be searching for a "beekeeper in Charlotte, NC" to help you get started, or perhaps you are just looking for the best "honey in Charlotte, NC" to help with your seasonal allergies. There is a big difference between buying bees (or honey) from a big commercial operation halfway across the country and buying from a neighbor.
For the Beekeepers
When you buy nucs from a local source like us, you are getting bees that are adapted to our specific Piedmont climate. They know our weather patterns, our humidity, and our bloom cycles. They have a much better chance of thriving in your backyard because they were raised in ours!
For the Honey Lovers
If you aren't ready to put on a bee suit but love the liquid gold they produce, keep your eyes peeled. As our bees forage on those Maple and Elm blossoms next week, they are creating the most localized, delicious product nature can offer. Supporting local beekeepers keeps the bee population in Charlotte healthy and ensures we can keep doing what we love—bringing raw, unfiltered honey to your table.
Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!
I can’t tell you how excited I am to see the bees flying next week. It’s what we wait for all winter long.
To recap your homework for this week:
Enjoy the warm weather coming to Charlotte!
Prepare at least two honey supers for every strong hive.
Reserve your nucs or packages immediately if you want to expand.
If you have questions about equipment, need to reserve a nuc, or just want to chat about what the bees are doing, don't be a stranger. We love our community of bee enthusiasts!
Head over to our online store to check out our available nucs and beekeeping products. Let's make this the best spring season yet!
And lastly, don’t feel like you have to be keeping the bees yourself in order to join in on the action. Now is a great time to reach out if you’re considering hosting a hive in Charlotte, NC this season with our Hive Host program! We take care of all the work for you and you get to enjoy the fruits of both the bees and our labor. With multiple plans, we fit our program to your need in hosting honeybees hives.
Happy Beekeeping!
Justin
Queen's Orders Honey
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