When should I put some pollen patties on my hives here in Southern CT? Someone said before the Red Maple bloom, but when is that? Brendan
The start tine isn't important. You can start anytime after Dec. 22, Solstice. The important thing is that once started, do not stop. You cannot let them run out of pollen sub or feed until the spring pollen and nectar is coming in. When you start feeding and adding pollen sub, the queen starts laying. She continues producing more mouths to feed from that point on. If you let them run out of feed or sub for even a few days, the hive can starve.
I won't crack open my inner covers until a 50° day in March. I'll apply the first pollen patties at that time. By waiting until the temperature hits 50° I'm fairly certain that there will be an increasing number of mild days when I can continue to give pollen sub and a little syrup. The following may be of interest: http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2688&q=322364 http://www.pollen.com/allergy-weather-forecast.asp
