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2026 - Summer extraction
2604 - Early Summer
Date of Extraction: 10th July 2026
Hives: H2 & H4
Number of boxes: 3.5 (4th box only partially filled)
Honey Extracted: 40.9kg
Details: Following the last spring extraction, the weather became cold, windy and damp. This probably set the bees back a bit, but then of course we had an intense heatwave followed by a lull, and then a second heatwave during which this extraction took place. This honey is golden and fragrant. It likely contains a good proportion of blackberry which has been in flower, as well as domestic plants. There are lime and chestnut trees around the village and this will likely feature too.
2026 - Spring extraction
2601 - Early Spring
Date of Extraction: 3rd May 2026
Hives: H1, H2 & H3
Number of boxes: 3
Honey Extracted: 28.4kg
Details: An exciting day in the beekeeping calendar! The first extraction of 2026. All around the village are fields of Oilseed Rape, and this is likely to have formed the bulk of the nectar contributing to this honey. Oilseed Rape is well known for its propensity to crystallise very quickly in the comb, and this was the case on this extraction, with some frames retaining many cells of crystallised honey. Crystallised honey will not extract from the comb, so it's important to extract Oilseed Rape honey quickly. This batch will be used to make soft-set honey only.
2602 - Mid Spring
Date of Extraction: 9th May 2026
Hives: H1, H2 & H3
Number of boxes: 3
Honey Extracted: 24.75kg
Details: This second extraction came quickly after the first, as I was surprised how much crystallisation there was on the first extraction. This honey has a more floral note than 2601, and it's likely that this batch contains more in the way of blossom nectar from the Blackthorn, Apple and Cherry, along with anything else in flower during April and early May.
2603 - Late Spring
Date of Extraction: 15th May 2026
Hives: H2 & H3
Number of boxes: 2
Honey Extracted: 18.65kg
Details: During inspection, I realised how heavy another few boxes were. Not wanting them to granulate in the frame, I decided to harvest these boxes too. I would say that this batch has even less Oilseed Rape in it than 2602, and like 2602, the trees and flowers in blossom during this period were also Apple and Cherry, as well as Horse Chestnut and Hawthorn.