Things to consider in November.

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.


Return your AFB paperwork.
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

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

Check every 9 days or so for the formation of swarm cells.

Make splits from strong hives and graft queens as required on warm days.

Hopefully sample the first honey of the season :)

What the bees are doing.

- Queen's egg production at peak.
- Large brood nest increasing bee numbers faster.
- Gathering nectar quickley
- Raising more drones
- Raising queen cells in preparation for swarming, check every 9 days or so.

Nectar producing plants for November

Japonica - finishing
Later fruiting trees - finishing
Ornamental trees
Bottle Brushs
Dandelions - weed
Summber flowering eucalypts
Red Rhododendrons (poisonous for bees)
Summer red hot pokers
Abutilon
Kowhai
Soft fruit - berries and currants
Loostrife - control weed! Found along ditches
Queen Annes lace
Carrot, parsnip,
Borage (Borago officinalis) English Borage
Alcanet/Vipers buglos (Echium vulgare) - NZ Blue Borage
Anchusa
Thistle - Control weed!
Mignonette
Phacelia
Teucreum
Escallonia
Citrus
Ceanothus
Aralia
Hawthorn (white flowering var is a weed)
Quince
Daphne
Lily of the valley tree
Grevillea
Pittosporum
Paeony - good for propolis
Sycamore
Berberis - some types are weeds
Honeysuckle - japanese var is a weed
Lonicera
Linden lime
Mahonia
Ivy - invasive
Lemonwood

Herbs,
Comfrey
Mint and Catmint
Thyme
Chives
Rosemary
Sage
Parsley
Fennel - control weed!
Horehound - control weed!
Hyssop
Winter savoury
Self heal - weed
Chamomile
Echinacea/Cone flowers
Basil
Lavender