Question
I do not feed sugar syrup to hives that I take care, instead I leave extra honey for winter survival. Does the total lifetime honey produced by an average hive depend on when I harvest (this fall, next spring, or only after the hive dies), or is the lifetime honey output essentially constant regardless of timing?
Answer
The total lifetime honey output of a hive is determined primarily by genetics, colony health, and nectar availability, not by the timing of your harvest. In other words, whether you harvest honey this fall, next fall, or after the hive dies, the cumulative amount of honey produced over the hive’s life is essentially the same.
What changes with timing is not the total but the distribution and usability of that honey:
• Harvesting too much too early may shorten colony survival by leaving insufficient stores for winter.
• Leaving all the honey until the colony dies may result in crystallized or fermented combs that are harder to use.
• Balanced harvests allow you to collect ripe honey while ensuring enough stores remain for survival, which can extend colony life and yield across multiple seasons.
By leaving more honey instead of feeding sugar syrup, you are prioritizing colony survival and health. Colonies that survive multiple winters usually outproduce colonies that die young, because they get to forage in multiple nectar seasons. Thus, the lifetime honey production is constant in principle, but survival strongly affects how much of it you actually get to harvest.
Conclusion
In summary, the timing of harvest does not change the total lifetime honey a colony can produce, but it does affect colony survival, honey quality, and practical usability. A management strategy that leaves ample stores for winter ensures stronger colonies, more reliable survival, and a steadier cumulative yield over the years.