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Goldenrod and aster flow is on — hive weight climbing again, do I leave it all or take a frame?

Second year, two hives in eastern Ontario. After six weeks of dearth my luggage-scale hefts are finally going UP again — one hive put on almost 3 kg in the last week. The goldenrod is everywhere and the whole apiary smells like old gym socks, which I'm told is normal for goldenrod curing. My question: the strong hive already has a decent band of capped stores plus this new stuff coming in. Is it reasonable to pull one or two frames of the fall flow for us, or is the standard advice up here to leave every gram for winter? I keep reading that aster honey crystallizes fast in the comb anyway. I don't want to be greedy and then be feeding sugar in October because of it.
#goldenrod#fall-flow#winter-stores#aster
▲ 8 votes 💬 4 replies
4 replies
GeorgiaWes · Aug 24, 2026
The gym sock smell means it's working. My rule after 22 years: fall flow belongs to the bees unless the box is genuinely full. If you're still hefting toward your winter target, leave it. One frame off a truly heavy hive won't hurt, but 'decent band' doesn't sound like full to me.
VTBeeHannah · Aug 24, 2026
Vermont here, similar climate to you. I leave everything and I've still had to feed some years. Goldenrod flow can shut off overnight with one early frost. I'd wait until late September, heft again, and only then decide if there's surplus.
CorkBeeRon · Aug 25, 2026
Same debate here with ivy every September. It sets like concrete in the comb but the bees overwinter on it grand. Agree with WesCaldwell — sorry, GeorgiaWes — take nothing until you know your winter weight is made. Aster crystallising in comb is a bee problem worth having, not a you problem.
BethsBees · Aug 25, 2026
Fair enough, that's three votes for patience. I'll keep hefting weekly and revisit at the end of September. The gym sock thing is honestly worse than anyone warned me.
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