Northern California Nectar Flow Calendar: Month-by-Month Bloom Guide for Beekeepers

The northern California nectar flow calendar runs from late January through early November — one of the longest active forage seasons in North America. Sacramento Valley beekeepers work a ten-month calendar that opens with almond pollen in February, peaks on star thistle in July, and closes on coyote brush in November. In between sit half a dozen minor flows, two reliable dearths, and a narrow window for harvesting surplus honey.

This guide maps the month-by-month bloom sequence across the Sacramento Valley, Sierra foothills, and North Coast, tied to the hive management actions that each flow demands. Use it to plan swarm prevention, supering, mite treatments, and harvest timing around the actual forage your bees will encounter — not a generic beekeeping calendar written for Ohio.

TL;DR: Northern California's core nectar flow runs March through July, anchored by almond, manzanita, orange, blackberry, and yellow star thistle. The Sacramento Valley sees two distinct peaks: a spring buildup flow (March-May) and a dryland summer flow (June-July) dominated by star thistle. July 4 is the working date most valley beekeepers use as the end of the main flow. August-September is the critical dearth. Eucalyptus and coyote brush provide a minor fall flow before wintering begins in late November.

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Why Northern California's Nectar Flow Is Unique

Most U.S. beekeeping literature was written for the eastern and midwestern flow pattern: a short, intense May-June bloom followed by a long summer dearth. Northern California breaks that model completely.

The Mediterranean climate — wet winters, dry summers — produces a bloom sequence driven by winter rainfall rather than summer rain. By June, most wildflowers have gone to seed. What replaces them are the deep-rooted, drought-adapted species that define California honey: yellow star thistle, blue curls, eucalyptus, coyote brush. A colony placed here in February and worked through October will encounter more than 30 named nectar and pollen sources.

The Sacramento Valley sits at the center of this production area. According to the California State Beekeepers Association, California produces roughly 10-14 million pounds of honey annually, with the Sacramento Valley and surrounding foothills contributing a significant share of the state's commercial honey crop (California State Beekeepers Association, 2025). The same landscape that draws 1.8 million commercial hives to almond pollination each February (USDA NASS, 2025) continues producing nectar for nine more months.

For the hobbyist or sideliner working 2-20 colonies in Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, Butte, Shasta, Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, Sutter, or Solano counties, the practical question is: what is blooming now, what is blooming next, and what should I do this week?

see how California's diverse forage produces distinct honey varietals

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The Master Calendar: Northern California Nectar Flow by Month

The table below is the one-page reference every northern California beekeeper should have at their bench. Dates shift 1-3 weeks year to year depending on rainfall and temperature. Elevation matters: add roughly one week per 1,000 feet of elevation gain when moving from the valley floor into the Sierra foothills.

Month	Primary Nectar Sources	Pollen Sources	Beekeeper Action
January	Manzanita (foothills), mustard (late)	Manzanita, willow, alder	Final winter check, heft for weight, feed if needed
February	Almond, manzanita, wild mustard	Almond, willow, manzanita, filaree	Stimulative feeding, reverse boxes, check for queen
March	Almond (late), manzanita, ceanothus, plum, cherry	Buckeye (toxic), fruit trees, ceanothus	First full inspection, add second brood box, split donor hives
April	Orange blossom, ceanothus, wild radish, poppy	Poppy, lupine, phacelia, blackberry	Super up, swarm prevention, split colonies
May	Blackberry, wild radish, vetch, mustard, clover	Blackberry, clover, lupine	Peak supering, swarm watch, early queen rearing
June	Yellow star thistle (starts), alfalfa, clover, black sage	Star thistle, alfalfa, clover	Monitor star thistle bloom, check supers weekly
July	Yellow star thistle (peak), blue curls (late), alfalfa	Star thistle, blue curls	Harvest surplus after Jul 4, begin mite monitoring
August	Blue curls, rabbit brush (east side), dearth begins	Limited — blue curls, late asters	Varroa treatment window, feed if light
September	Coyote brush (late), rabbit brush, dearth continues	Coyote brush, asters, goldenrod	Post-treatment check, fall feeding, combine weak colonies
October	Coyote brush (peak), eucalyptus (coastal/urban), ivy	Coyote brush, eucalyptus, ivy	Equalize stores, final mite count, reduce entrances
November	Eucalyptus (warm years), late coyote brush	Eucalyptus, manzanita (early)	Wrap up feeding, winter configuration, mouse guards
December	Minimal — eucalyptus in mild years	Occasional manzanita	Leave hives alone, heft weekly, plan next season

Keep this table pinned in your bee shed. The rest of this guide unpacks each month in detail with the specific species, timing ranges, and management rationale behind the actions above.

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January: Dormancy and the First Pollen

January in the Sacramento Valley is deceptively active. Daytime temperatures hit 55-65°F often enough to trigger cleansing flights and light foraging. Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) in the lower Sierra foothills starts blooming as early as late December in mild years. By mid-January, early manzanita plus roadside willow (Salix spp.) can provide the first pollen of the year.

Nectar volume is near zero. Colonies are burning through winter stores. This is the month more northern California colonies starve than any other — not from cold, but from running out of honey while the queen has started laying again.

Key species:

• Manzanita (foothill elevations 500-3,000 ft)
• Willow (early varieties)
• Occasional wild mustard on warm days

Beekeeper actions:

• Heft hives weekly. If the back of the hive lifts with two fingers, feed fondant or dry sugar on the top bars immediately.
• Do not open the brood nest. Quick top-feed inspections only, on days above 55°F.
• Order packages, nucs, and queens for spring if not already booked. Northern California nucs sell out by December in most years.

Pro Tip: Sacramento Valley beekeepers should aim for at least 60-70 pounds of stores going into December. Colonies that drop below 30 pounds in January rarely recover without feeding.

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February: Almond Bloom and the Biggest Pollination Event on Earth

February is when northern California beekeeping comes alive. The almond bloom — roughly 1.4 million acres across the Central Valley — draws more than 1.8 million honey bee colonies from across the United States (USDA NASS, 2025). Even if you do not rent your hives for almonds, your local bees are foraging on almond pollen and nectar wherever an orchard is within 2-3 miles.

Peak almond bloom usually runs February 10 through March 5 in the Sacramento Valley, with bloom starting slightly earlier in Kern County and finishing later in Butte and Glenn counties. Manzanita continues in the foothills. Wild mustard and filaree fill the valley floor.

Key species:

• Almond (Prunus dulcis) — abundant pollen, moderate nectar
• Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) — excellent early nectar and pollen
• Wild mustard (Brassica spp.) — steady pollen, light nectar
• Filaree (Erodium spp.) — pollen on roadsides and fields
• Willow — continues pollen flow

Beekeeper actions:

• Reverse brood boxes on the first 60°F+ day if bees have moved up into the upper box.
• Begin stimulative feeding (1:1 syrup) if no natural flow is reaching your location. This is where the queen ramps up laying for spring.
• First queen check of the season. Confirm laying pattern, assess colony size, identify any failing queens for replacement.
• Book early April splits if your colonies look strong.

A Sacramento County hobbyist working 4-6 colonies near almond orchards routinely reports colonies tripling brood area between early February and early March. That buildup is the foundation of the entire year's honey crop.

read our beginner's hive inspection checklist for first-spring inspections

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March: The Buildup Flow Begins

March is when northern California's main nectar flow starts in earnest. Late almond bloom finishes. Manzanita continues. Plum, cherry, and other stone fruits bloom. Ceanothus (California lilac) fires in the foothills. Wild radish blankets fallow fields.

The flow is still light compared to what is coming, but it is consistent enough that colonies can stop losing weight and start gaining. Queens are laying at maximum rates. Brood area doubles roughly every 18-21 days. Colony populations explode.

Key species:

• Ceanothus / California lilac (Ceanothus spp.) — heavy nectar, excellent pollen
• Plum, cherry, apricot, peach (Prunus spp.) — pollen and light nectar
• Wild mustard, wild radish — steady pollen and nectar on fallow ground
• Manzanita (higher elevations) — continues
• Buckeye (Aesculus californica) — avoid; pollen toxic to honey bee larvae

Beekeeper actions:

• Full brood inspection on a 65°F+ day. Evaluate queen, check for disease, score for mites if not already done.
• Add second brood box when the existing box is 70-80% covered in bees.
• Identify strong donor colonies for early April splits.
• Begin swarm prevention: checkerboard frames, open brood nest, ensure ample empty drawn comb or foundation above the cluster.
• Treat for varroa only if counts exceed 3 mites per 100 bees and brood is limited. Most treatments wait for the late-summer window.

Pro Tip: California buckeye blooms in March-April in foothill canyons. Its pollen is toxic to honey bee larvae and can cause queen loss and colony decline. If you are near extensive buckeye stands, consider supplemental pollen patties through the buckeye bloom window.

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April: Orange Blossom, Wild Radish, and the Swarm Season Peak

April is the single most intense month in the northern California beekeeping calendar. Orange blossom bloom — concentrated in Tulare and Fresno counties but present in Sacramento Valley citrus pockets — produces some of the most prized honey varietals in the state. Wild radish, vetch, and poppy blanket roadsides and fallow fields. Ceanothus continues in the foothills. Early blackberry starts on the North Coast.

Swarming peaks this month. Colonies that tripled in February and doubled again in March are at their absolute maximum population, and congestion plus strong nectar input triggers reproductive swarming. Sacramento Valley beekeepers typically see peak swarm calls between April 10 and May 15.

Key species:

• Orange blossom (Citrus spp.) — premium varietal honey, concentrated in citrus-growing areas
• Wild radish (Raphanus sativus) — heavy nectar, pale honey
• Ceanothus — continues
• Poppy, lupine, phacelia — pollen heavy, light nectar
• Vetch (Vicia spp.) — excellent nectar
• Early blackberry (North Coast)

Beekeeper actions:

• Super up. Add supers before you think they are needed — April flow can fill a super in 10-14 days under ideal conditions.
• Execute walkaway splits, nucs, or queenless splits. April is the optimal month for making increase in northern California.
• Check every 7-10 days for swarm cells. Cut swarm cells is a losing strategy; split the colony or perform a Demaree manipulation instead.
• Start queen rearing if running more than 6 colonies. April-May drone populations are at peak.

Orange blossom honey from Sacramento County citrus plantings, though limited in volume, fetches premium prices and ships across the country. If you have citrus within flight range, keep a super dedicated to capturing it as a varietal.

learn why bees swarm and how to catch a swarm

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May: The Main Spring Flow Peaks

May is when most Sacramento Valley colonies produce the majority of their harvestable spring honey. Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus and native species) is the workhorse nectar source — fields, creeks, and urban greenbelts across northern California host heavy Himalayan blackberry stands that produce reliable, abundant nectar. Wild radish continues. Vetch peaks. Clover fills alfalfa rotations and pasture.

Colonies at this point should be full, populous, and producing nectar faster than they can cure it. A strong colony in a good May location can deposit 5-10 pounds of nectar per day during peak flow. Boxes get heavy. Swarming pressure continues.

Key species:

• Blackberry (Rubus spp.) — primary spring nectar, medium amber honey
• Wild radish — continues from April
• Vetch — continues
• Yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) — early in some years
• Alfalfa — begins in dairy country
• Toyon, coffeeberry (foothills)

Beekeeper actions:

• Keep supering ahead of the flow. Do not let supers get capped out — add another below or above.
• Final swarm prevention pass. After mid-May, swarm impulse begins declining in most valley locations.
• Peak queen rearing window. Day-old grafts on May 10-20 produce mated queens by early June, perfect for requeening summer splits.
• First surplus harvest possible for early-region beekeepers (low valley, orange blossom zones). Most beekeepers wait for the summer harvest.

Pro Tip: Keep a spare super of drawn comb in reserve during May. The difference between losing a May flow to a swarm and capturing it as surplus honey often comes down to whether you had empty frames ready at 5 p.m. on a Sunday.

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June: The Transition to Summer and the Star Thistle Start

June is a transition month. Spring annuals go to seed. Blackberry winds down by mid-June in most locations. What takes over is the defining plant of northern California summer beekeeping: yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis).

Yellow star thistle is an invasive noxious weed. It is also one of the highest-producing summer nectar plants in North America. Northern California has more star thistle than any other region — millions of acres across the inner coast range, Sierra foothills, and dry valley margins. Star thistle honey is water-white, slow to crystallize, and commands premium prices. For many valley beekeepers, the star thistle flow is the single largest honey crop of the year.

Bloom typically starts June 15-25 in Placer and El Dorado counties, slightly earlier in the lower foothills, and peaks in early to mid-July. Black sage produces in limited inland-coastal zones. Alfalfa continues in dairy regions.

Key species:

• Yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis) — starts mid-June, excellent nectar
• Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) — continuous where grown
• Black sage (Salvia mellifera) — coastal and inland-coast
• Clover (continues in pasture)
• Toyon, buckwheat (starts)

Beekeeper actions:

• Inspect supers weekly. The June-July transition can fill a medium super in a week during peak star thistle flow.
• Pull any off-flavor honey (wild radish can be strong) before star thistle starts if you want a varietal.
• Begin varroa monitoring with sugar roll or alcohol wash. Pre-harvest mite counts inform treatment timing.
• Identify strong production colonies vs. weak colonies. Combine weak colonies into double queens or boost with brood from strong hives.

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July: Peak Star Thistle and the End of the Main Flow

July is the month that defines whether it was a good honey year. Star thistle peaks from late June through about July 20, with the flow tapering into early August in higher elevations. Alfalfa continues. Blue curls (Trichostema lanceolatum) starts in late July in the inner coast range and Sierra foothills.

The unofficial end of the main northern California nectar flow is July 4. Experienced Sacramento Valley beekeepers use that date as a working milestone: strong colonies have the boxes they will have, supers are filling or filled, and harvest planning starts. Star thistle keeps flowing in many locations through mid-July, but colony population peaks and begins the gradual decline toward winter.

Key species:

• Yellow star thistle (peaks early-to-mid July)
• Alfalfa (continues)
• Blue curls (Trichostema lanceolatum) — late July into August
• Gumplant (Grindelia spp.) — scattered
• Toyon (foothills)
• Sunflower (cultivated and wild, in pockets)

Beekeeper actions:

• First major harvest typically occurs mid-July through early August.
• Leave at least 60-80 pounds of honey on each colony for winter. Most northern California beekeepers pull spring surplus and leave summer stores.
• Begin varroa treatment planning. Treatment timing in northern California is typically August 1-15, after the main flow but before fall brood cycles are heavily parasitized.
• Do not split colonies after July 15 unless you are comfortable feeding them heavily into fall.

see our honey harvest guide for responsible extraction practices

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August: The Dearth and the Critical Mite Treatment Window

August is the northern California dearth. Yellow star thistle finishes. Blue curls provides a minor flow in some areas. Most floral sources have gone dormant. Summer heat routinely hits 95-105°F in the valley. Colonies shift from production mode to survival mode.

This is the single most important mite treatment window in the northern California calendar. Varroa populations have been building silently through the spring and summer. If left untreated, they will cause colony collapse between September and February. Treating in August — when brood is declining, mites are exposed, and temperatures dictate treatment options — is the difference between a hive that winters and a hive that does not.

Key species:

• Blue curls — late July through August, the final major summer flow in some zones
• Rabbit brush (Ericameria nauseosa) — east side and high desert margins
• Late alfalfa (where grown)
• Gumplant — scattered
• Occasional backyard garden flowers

Beekeeper actions:

• Do a sugar roll or alcohol wash on every colony. Record mite counts.
• Treat with your chosen varroa method. Formic acid (Formic Pro, MAQS) works up to 92°F ambient but is hard on queens; oxalic acid vapor is brood-dependent; Apivar requires 42-56 days and no supers. Match treatment to your colony condition and temperature.
• Feed 2:1 syrup to light colonies. Sacramento Valley summers can leave colonies lighter than spring weights if they raised too much brood.
• Reduce entrances to prevent robbing. August robbing pressure in northern California is intense.

Pro Tip: Robbing in August-September can destroy weak colonies in a single afternoon. Use robbing screens on any colony below 5 frames of bees. If you see a cloud of fighting bees at the entrance of a small hive, close it down immediately.

read our varroa mite treatment timing guide for northern California's specific window

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September: Fall Dearth Continues and Coyote Brush Starts

September is the second half of the late-summer dearth, with one important exception: coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis) starts in the North Coast and northern Sacramento Valley by late September. In most years the coyote brush flow is a minor honey flow, but in cool-fall years it can produce surplus honey in well-placed colonies.

Rabbit brush continues on the east side and desert margins. Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) provides limited nectar in northern California — much less than in the Midwest or East. Mite treatments wrap up. Colony population declines sharply as summer bees die off and winter bee production begins.

Key species:

• Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis) — starts late September, peaks October-November
• Rabbit brush — continues
• Goldenrod (limited in northern California)
• Late asters
• Ivy (Hedera spp.) in urban areas

Beekeeper actions:

• Complete varroa treatment. Do a post-treatment mite count 2 weeks after the last application. Counts below 1 per 100 bees are the goal going into winter.
• Feed 2:1 syrup if colonies are below 60 pounds total weight by late September.
• Combine weak colonies with strong ones using newspaper method. Two medium colonies heading into winter are better than four weak ones.
• Install entrance reducers. Mouse guards go on in October.

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October: Coyote Brush Peaks and Final Preparations

October is the month of coyote brush. The dioecious shrub — male plants produce the nectar — blooms heavily across coast ranges, valley margins, and disturbed ground from Humboldt to Santa Cruz, and east to the western Sacramento Valley. Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) starts in coastal and urban areas. Ivy blooms in gardens. Temperatures drop into the 60s-70s, nectar flow is modest but consistent, and colonies build a final bump of winter stores.

For Sacramento Valley beekeepers working Vacaville, Dixon, Winters, Davis, and the foothill transition zones, coyote brush can add 10-20 pounds of winter stores to a healthy colony. It is not a harvest flow — leave every pound on the hive.

Key species:

• Coyote brush (peaks mid-to-late October)
• Eucalyptus (coastal and urban plantings)
• English ivy (urban gardens)
• Late asters
• Occasional late-blooming garden plants

Beekeeper actions:

• Final hive weight check. Target 80+ pounds total hive weight going into November.
• Install mouse guards. Sacramento Valley mice move into hives by early November.
• Reduce entrances to 2-3 inches.
• Insulate if you are in Sierra foothills above 3,000 ft. Valley floor colonies generally do not need insulation.
• Verify each colony has a queen and is still raising brood. Queenless colonies in October will not survive winter.

follow our month-by-month first-winter survival protocol

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November: Wintering Begins

November is when the northern California beekeeping season effectively ends. Coyote brush finishes by mid-November in most locations. Eucalyptus continues in warm coastal pockets. Manzanita at higher foothill elevations may start very early bloom in warm years. But nectar input drops to near zero. Temperatures become marginal for foraging.

Colonies are in their winter configuration: reduced population (around 15,000-20,000 bees versus 50,000+ at peak), no drones, tightly clustered at night, minimal brood rearing. The queen is laying at minimum — often zero eggs for a week or two at a time.

Key species:

• Late coyote brush (first week of November)
• Eucalyptus (mild coastal and urban areas)
• Occasional early manzanita in warm foothill years

Beekeeper actions:

• Complete all feeding by mid-November. After that, cold syrup is risky — switch to solid feed (fondant, candy board, dry sugar) if colonies still need help.
• Ensure ventilation. Northern California winters are wet. Moisture kills more valley colonies than cold.
• Install a top entrance (popsicle stick or notched inner cover) for ventilation and an emergency exit if the bottom entrance gets blocked by dead bees.
• Do not open hives unless absolutely necessary.

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December: Rest and Planning

December in the Sacramento Valley is the closest thing to a true dormant month. Foraging is rare. Brood rearing is minimal. The cluster tightens. Beekeepers catch up on equipment maintenance, order packages, and plan for spring.

Key species:

• Minimal — warm-year eucalyptus and occasional manzanita only

Beekeeper actions:

• Heft hives every 2 weeks.
• Clean and repair equipment.
• Order bees and queens for spring. Sacramento Valley packages and nucs from reputable producers sell out by late December most years.
• Review the year: pull hive records, decide what to change.
• Build new equipment. Winter is the best time to paint boxes and assemble frames.

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How Elevation and Geography Shift the Calendar

The master calendar above works for the Sacramento Valley floor (50-300 feet elevation). Elevation and regional microclimates shift everything.

Sacramento Valley Floor (Sacramento, Yolo, Sutter, Solano, Butte, Glenn)

Standard calendar. This is the reference baseline. Almond bloom mid-February, main flow March-July, dearth August-September, coyote brush October.

Sierra Foothills (Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Nevada, 1,000-3,000 ft)

Everything shifts 2-4 weeks later. Manzanita blooms earlier (December-January) but spring flow doesn't really start until late March. Star thistle peaks in mid-to-late July rather than early July. Fall flow ends 2-3 weeks earlier due to elevation and colder nights.

North Coast (Mendocino, Sonoma, Humboldt, Lake)

Earlier and more extended. Blackberry and ceanothus bloom heavily. Coyote brush flow is stronger and longer. Reduced star thistle compared to inland valleys. More consistent fall flow from coyote brush and eucalyptus.

Upper Sacramento Valley and Shasta-Tehama (200-500 ft)

Similar to main valley but 3-7 days later in spring and slightly earlier in fall. Strong manzanita flows where foothill interface occurs. Star thistle production can be as strong or stronger than lower valley.

Sierra High Country (above 3,500 ft)

Short, intense summer flow. Wildflower meadows produce excellent honey from June through August. Colonies must be removed or wintered at lower elevation due to severe winters.

see how elevation and region shape California wildflower honey varietals

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Climate Change Is Shifting the Calendar

The northern California nectar flow calendar is not static. Over the past two decades, peak bloom dates for almond, blackberry, and star thistle have all shifted measurably earlier. California has warmed roughly 3°F since 1900, and warming has accelerated since 2000 (California Department of Water Resources, 2024). Chill hours have declined. Drought years reshape flow entirely — in severe drought years, star thistle can fail outright across large portions of its range.

Practical implications for Sacramento Valley beekeepers:

• Almond bloom now starts 7-10 days earlier than it did in the 1990s.
• Spring flow compresses in drought years and expands in wet years. 2023 (post-record-rain) produced a 6-week blackberry flow across the North Coast; 2021 (deep drought) saw the same region produce almost nothing.
• Late-fall warm spells trigger premature brood rearing, burning through winter stores. November-December warm periods are more common and harder to plan around.

The calendar in this guide assumes a "typical" year. Track the actual bloom in your specific location for 3-5 years and you will build a local calendar far more accurate than any regional guide. Most experienced northern California beekeepers keep a simple notebook of "first bloom" dates for key species — the single most valuable record a local beekeeper can build.

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Stores Requirements Through the Year

Nectar flow timing only matters if you match it to colony stores. Here is the rough stores-per-colony target by month for the Sacramento Valley, based on common field observation and UC ANR beekeeping resources:

Month	Minimum Stores	Target Stores
January	30 lb	50-60 lb
February	25 lb	40-50 lb
March	20 lb	30-40 lb (rising)
April	25 lb	40-60 lb
May	40 lb	60-90 lb
June	60 lb	90-120 lb
July (post-harvest)	60 lb	80-100 lb
August	50 lb	70-90 lb
September	55 lb	70-90 lb
October	60 lb	80+ lb
November	65 lb	80+ lb
December	60 lb	80+ lb

These numbers assume Langstroth 10-frame deep equipment. Adjust proportionally for 8-frame, top bar, or other configurations. A full deep frame of capped honey weighs roughly 6-8 pounds; a full medium frame weighs roughly 4-5 pounds.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When do bees make honey in California?

Bees in northern California make honey from roughly late February through July, with a second minor flow from coyote brush and eucalyptus in October-November. The peak surplus honey window is April through mid-July, anchored by blackberry, wild radish, and yellow star thistle. Commercial beekeepers typically harvest twice: a spring harvest in late May or early June and a summer harvest in mid-to-late July after the star thistle flow winds down.

What is the main nectar flow in the Sacramento Valley?

The main Sacramento Valley nectar flow has two parts: a spring buildup and harvest flow (March-May) dominated by ceanothus, orange blossom, and blackberry, and a summer dryland flow (June-July) dominated by yellow star thistle. Most valley beekeepers consider July 4 the working end of the main flow. August-September is a pronounced dearth. Coyote brush in October provides a minor fall flow.

When is the best time to harvest honey in northern California?

Most northern California beekeepers harvest surplus honey once, in mid-to-late July, after the star thistle flow ends. Beekeepers wanting varietal spring honey (orange blossom, wildflower, blackberry) may harvest in late May or early June and pull a second summer harvest for star thistle. Always leave at least 60-80 pounds of honey on each colony for winter.

How does the northern California nectar flow compare to other regions?

Northern California has one of the longest active nectar flows in North America — roughly 10 months from late January manzanita to November coyote brush. Most U.S. regions have one concentrated flow of 4-8 weeks. California's Mediterranean climate also means the main flow is front-loaded (March-July) with a late-summer dearth, rather than the midwestern pattern of peak flow in June and continued forage through August.

What is yellow star thistle and why is it important to beekeepers?

Yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis) is an invasive noxious weed that produces some of the highest-quality summer nectar in North America. It blooms from late June through July across millions of acres of northern California's dry inland rangelands and foothills. Star thistle honey is water-white, slow to crystallize, and commands premium prices. For many valley beekeepers, star thistle is the single largest honey crop of the year. Because it is a noxious weed and difficult to eradicate, it is likely to remain a beekeeping staple.

When does almond bloom start in the Sacramento Valley?

Almond bloom in the Sacramento Valley typically starts February 8-15 and peaks around February 20-25, finishing in early March. Bloom starts slightly earlier in Kern and Fresno counties (mid-to-late January) and slightly later in Butte and Glenn counties. Rising temperatures have shifted peak bloom roughly 7-10 days earlier over the past 30 years.

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Using This Calendar to Plan Your Beekeeping Year

The northern California nectar flow calendar is the single most important document for any serious local beekeeper. Every management decision — when to split, when to super, when to treat, when to harvest, when to feed — keys off what is blooming now and what is blooming next.

Start with the master table. Pin it in your bee shed. Add your local first-bloom dates each year. Over 3-5 years you will have a calendar calibrated to your specific apiary, your specific microclimate, and your specific goals.

Then match your management to the flow. Do not split in September because a book said spring is for splitting — split in April, when drones are abundant and nectar is coming in. Do not treat in November because someone on a forum recommended fall treatment — treat in August, when northern California colonies have their pre-winter peak mite load and brood is declining. Do not harvest in May because the supers are full — leave spring stores in place and harvest after the star thistle flow in mid-to-late July when the crop is largest and most stable.

The calendar is the frame. The species are the clock. The weather is the variable. Build your year around all three.

Want to taste what a northern California nectar flow produces when it is harvested responsibly? Explore our raw California wildflower honey sourced from Sacramento Valley and foothill apiaries working this exact calendar, and read our guide to responsible honey harvest practices that keep colonies — and the northern California forage landscape — healthy for the next generation of beekeepers.