Flow Hive Harvesting Checklist
When you are ready to harvest honey from your Flow Hive, have a look at the harvesting checklist below.
The Flow Hive 2 and Flow Hive 2+ have additional features which make the experience of harvesting honey even easier. Please note: some of the steps are different from the original Flow Hive Classic and those in the Flow Frame Manual.
Harvesting Checklist
- Wear a suitable protective bee suit to minimise stings.
Check out this Flow sponsored safety pamphlet for an introduction to beekeeping safety and first aid.
Ensure that the hive has a slope towards your honey outlets.
Flow Hive Classic
The whole hive should have a 2.5 to 5-degree slope toward your honey outlets. You can check this with a spirit level app on your phone, or simply make sure it is visually obvious that it has a good slope towards where your jars will be placed.
Flow Hive 2
Your base side spirit level and rear spirit level will both be aligned when the hive has the appropriate 3º angle.
Flow Hive Classic
Slide the baseboard corflute slider into the closed (top slot) position.
The corflute slider is the plastic slider in the baseboard. It has two positions. For harvesting make sure it is in the top position. This will keep any dribbles of honey that may occur within the hive for the bees to re-use. If you have a solid bottom board, ignore this step.
Flow Hive 2
Clean out your base tray prior to harvesting.
Remove any pest treatments and hive debris.
- Ensure that each frame you are harvesting is ready and that the bees have capped the cells.
Look in the end frame view, if the cells are mostly full and capped with wax then it's a good indication the honey is ready for harvest. - Attach your harvesting shelf brackets (optional) or find a suitable stand for your honey jars.
Check each bracket is secure and fit the Flow Super rear window cover to create a shelf. - Are the collection tubes pointing the right way?
The little tongue on the end of the tube goes into the frame and blocks the honey leak back point. If the tube is the wrong way around honey may flow into the hive. - Do you have enough jars?
Each Flow Frame can hold up to 2.3 L /3.2 kg, (2.4qt) of honey. If you are harvesting for the first time, it may be a good idea to start with one or two frames first to make sure everything is set up right. - Have covers for your jars ready
Place a cover over your jar to keep out bees or other contaminants. Some netting, kitchen cling wrap, cloth etc. can be used to cover the open honey jars while harvesting.
TIP: The Flow key may be hard to turn
To make it easier, you can insert the tool part way and turn, then insert further and turn again.
Flow Hive Classic Harvesting Checklist
Download the Flow Hive Classic Harvesting Checklist as a PDF below: