Things to consider in December.

Please remember the geographic diversity of Canterbury, from the warmth of Christchurch and the coast to the chills of the foothills, giving specific info here is difficult.
Getting to know your local climate is very important as what one person does this month, may need to happen next month for you even though there is only a few KM's between you.


AFB paperwork should have been returned.
Destroy AFB infected hives + stored frames and supers that came from infected hives, put an apiary quarantine in place for 18 months where you can’t identify individual supers.

Check entrance ways and weed accordingly.

Super up as needed or feed if too much honey removed in spring and hives are weak

Feed Nuc's to build them up.

Check mite levels and treatment options/dates, remember to alternate treatment chemical families in order to reduce the chance of resistance.

Check for the formation of swarm cells.

Make splits from strong hives and graft queens only if necessary, they will struggle to over winter depending on the rest of season.

Extracting surplus honey
 - Main clover flow.
 - Manuka flow

What the bees are doing.

- Queen's egg production at peak.
- Maintaining large brood, increasing bee numbers.
- Gathering nectar quickly
- Possibility of swarm cells being raised

Nectar producing plants for December

Pohutukawa
Rata
Manuka/Kanuka
Bottle Brushs
Cabbage tree
Fuschias
Hebe's
Summber flowering eucalypts
Summer red hot pokers
Abutilon
Queen Annes lace
Borage (Borago officinalis) English Borage
Alcanet/Vipers buglos (Echium vulgare) - NZ Blue Borage
Anchusa
Thistle - Control weed!
Mignonette
Phacelia
Teucreum
Escallonia
Citrus
Linden Lime
Grevillea
Pittosporum
Paeony - good for propolis
Berberis - some types are weeds
Honeysuckle - japanese var is a weed
Mahonia
Echinops
Flax
Parsonia

Herbs,
Mint and Catmint
Thyme
Chives
Rosemary
Sage
Parsley
Fennel - control weed!
Hyssop
Chamomile
Echinacea/cone flowers
Basil
Lavender