02/05/2026
This LONG post ends with a late winter strategy for your colonies, so I encourage you to push through. (SERIOUSLY: starvation is the beekeeper’s fault.)
There are at least 3 big question(s) for DC beekeepers RIGHT NOW:
1) when will the big brood rearing burst start?
2) do I need to feed after all this cold?
2) do I still have time for an OAV mite treatment?
DCBA’s April speaker and pollinator planting guru, Fred Nichols, has some intel for you based on the Maple tree bloom (which you can watch out our window in our arboretum city). He’s in Poolesville, MD and we are in a heat sink, so I’d set a reminder for a week or so in advance (if you are not going to obsessively watch like me).
One key message: “the recent stretch of highs in the 20s and low 30s has effectively hit the "pause button" on plant development.”
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Here is today’s updated Maple flow for Poolesville. I’ve trained my AI to provide these every morning:
GDD and Bloom Update for Poolesville (Feb 5, 2026)
Here is the update for your apiary planning. The "deep freeze" you've been experiencing has kept the local biology in a holding pattern.
1. Current Heat Accumulation (GDD)
• Total GDD (Base 50°F): 31.5
• Recent Activity: Zero accumulation since February 1st.
• The Hold: While January’s warm spikes (reaching into the 70s) got you to 31.5 units, the recent stretch of highs in the 20s and low 30s has effectively hit the "pause button" on plant development.
2. 10-Day Outlook & Forecasted Accumulation
The "warming window" is still holding for your scheduled OA treatment start on February 10th.
• Now – Feb 9: Highs stay in the 20s to low 40s. GDD will remain at 31.5.
• Feb 10 – Feb 12: Temperatures begin to climb. Forecasted highs of 52°F (Feb 10) and 48°F (Feb 11).
• Calculation: On Feb 10th, with a high of 52°F and low of 43°F, the average is 47.5°F. Since this is below 50°F, you will still likely see 0 GDD units added.
• The "Kick-off": A larger spike is expected around February 13th-14th with highs reaching the mid-50s. This is when we’ll see the first new GDD units added in over two weeks.
3. Red Maple Bloom Timing
• Threshold: Red Maples typically begin flowering at 44 GDD.
• Current Gap: You need 12.5 more units.
• Prediction: Based on the current warming trend, you will hit the 44 GDD mark approximately February 24th–28th.
Strategy for Your Apiary
This delay is a benefit for your 3-round OA reset. By starting your first round on the 10th, you are hitting the mites just as the cluster loosens up but before the Red Maples trigger the queen to start massive brood rearing.
I have kept the reminder for the morning of February 10th.
Also, this drove a decision for me to add a small amount of pollen patty to my colonies when the weather gets over 42 degrees as a bridge to the delayed blooms because the queens are definitely working on initial expansion.
