KentishBee · Kent, UK · Honey · Jun 22, 2026

Main flow is finally on — how far ahead do you super?

Blackberry and clover both opened up here in Kent this week and my two production colonies are suddenly whitening comb like mad. Both have one super each that's maybe 60% drawn and getting nectar. My question is how far ahead you all stay. I've read 'super when the current one is 70% full', but I've also read that during a strong flow a good colony can fill a super in under a week, and that running out of space mid-flow gets you backfilled brood nests and swarm cells. Do you put one empty on, or two at once? Over vs under the part-filled one? I only have four spare supers total so I can't just stack five like some of the YouTube people do. Third year and this is my first proper flow with strong colonies, don't want to blow it.

#nectar-flow#supering#honey-supers

▲ 21 votes 💬 4 replies

4 replies

ImkerinLena · Jun 22, 2026

Rule I teach: during a real flow, when bees occupy the top super and are whitening its comb edges, add the next one. Occupation, not fullness — they need room to hang and to spread nectar for drying. Nectar takes roughly three times the space of the ripened honey. With drawn comb I add two at once on a strong colony; with foundation only one, they won't draw two properly anyway.

muglabalci · Jun 22, 2026

Under-supering is more work for your back with no proven gain, plenty of studies show no real difference. I just put empties on top. The one mistake that costs you honey is being late — a plugged super for even four days in a strong flow and they start packing the brood nest. If in doubt, put it on.

GeorgiaWes · Jun 23, 2026

22 years and my rule is stupid simple: I never close a hive during a flow without empty space on it. Bees whitening = add. You got four supers and two hives, so two each — put the second on now and stop worrying. Extract the outer capped frames early if you run short, that's your extra space.

KentishBee · Jun 23, 2026

Thanks all — went out yesterday evening and both got their second super. One's on drawn comb, one's foundation sandwiched above the brood heat. Feels much better than rationing it out.

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