How we make sugar blocks for Winter Feeding
Creating these sugar blocks is a straightforward but important process, and it’s one we repeat throughout the winter as part of our overall hive-care routine. Long before winter feeding becomes necessary, we make certain each hive is well prepared. Every colony goes into November with a minimum of 60 pounds of stored honey, which is always their primary winter food source.
We begin our more serious winter inspections in early December. During these visits, we work quickly and deliberately, never leaving a hive open for more than five minutes. Winter inspections are only done when outside temperatures are between 30 and 40 degrees, allowing us to assess conditions without unnecessarily disrupting the winter cluster.
To make the sugar blocks, we start with 10 pounds of plain sugar and mix it with one cup of warm water. To achieve the proper consistency, we use a cordless drill fitted with a strongly made metal paint-mixing bit. We do not recommend using paint-mixer bits made from hardened plastic, as they can flex or break under the load of heavy sugar. The paint-mixing bit we use was purchased from Granger, and it easily handles the thickness of the mixture while blending evenly.
Once the mix reaches the right consistency, it’s packed firmly into two aluminum banquet pans and tamped down evenly. The pans are then baked at 180°F for one hour. This slow, gentle heat allows the moisture to evaporate and the sugar to set into solid, easy-to-handle blocks that won’t crumble when placed on the hives.
After baking, the blocks are allowed to cool completely before being stored in our Honey House floor freezer, where they remain fresh and ready when needed.
Throughout the winter, we revisit our hives every 7 to 12 days, keeping detailed notes on each visit. During these checks, we assess food stores, add sugar blocks where necessary, and wipe away any moisture found inside the telescoping covers. If a telescoping top shows signs of excess moisture or wear, it’s replaced to help keep the hive dry — a critical factor in winter survival.
As winter begins to loosen its grip, near the end of March we start our first spring inspections. These early spring checks allow us to evaluate how each colony has come through the winter and to add additional sugar blocks where needed, providing continued support as brood rearing increases and natural nectar sources are still limited.
This careful, methodical approach allows us to support our colonies through the cold months and into early spring, while keeping disturbance to an absolute minimum.
Best wishes,
Mary & Ed
E&M Gold Beekeepers
Tinton Falls, NJ
Family run since 1997
