We've had a pretty wet week, and I noticed that the hives don't have so many eggs. This is an adaptation to our climate; queens cut down egg laying in bad weather, and as a result, the colony needs less food to get through till the weather improves. Neither of the two new queens has started laying yet. I hope they're in there! I've started another frame for the eggs, just in case they aren't.
The peas are now growing well, after being netted for a couple of weeks to keep the pigeons off. The crop will be safe, but I'm not sure I'll have anything for the show in a few weeks' time. I've been digging as fast as I can, clearing areas I couldn't get to over the winter, but I'm terribly behind. The good thing is that a lot of ground has been cleared of ground elder. That'll make life easier next year.
Slugs have been having a field day on my squashes. I keep getting this; the solution may be to grow them on for a while in bigger pots, and plant them out when they're big enough to take it. They're particularly vulnerable when they first go out in the open, so it might help to keep them off the ground at this stage.
We go to Philo
1 week ago
Just wonderful to see beehives up close again. We used to keep bees on our allotment in Ealing when I was growing up. I was the only girl guide in the county to have her beekeepers badge! I would love to do it again some day when I have more space. Meanwhile I will enjoy it vicariously through your blog!
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising how little space you need; I have four hives on an old shed base that I'd otherwise have to get rid of somehow, and two more beside the shed. If you don't have the space there's a fair chance the local Beekeepers' Association could help, as most of them have an apiary available. I keep mine separately because I'm interested in bee breding and that requires a bit of segregation.
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