I started keeping bees in Central Texas six years ago, and one of the biggest lessons I learned fast was that timing matters more here than in any other state I’ve visited. Our winters stay mild, summers hit triple digits, and the nectar flow follows patterns you will not see in Michigan or Vermont. If you follow a generic northern calendar, your colonies will suffer.
This guide walks you through beekeeping month by month in Texas, broken into the four main regions I work with: East, Central, South, and West. I have pulled together tasks, feeding schedules, swarm windows, mite treatment timing, and the Texas-specific plants your bees will hit each season. By the end, you will know exactly what to do in your hive every month of 2026.
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Why Texas Beekeeping Needs a Different Calendar
Texas covers 268,000 square miles of wildly different terrain. The Pineywoods of East Texas get 50 inches of rain a year. The Trans-Pecos gets less than 10. Your calendar in Houston looks nothing like a calendar in Amarillo.
The biggest reason to follow a Texas-specific plan is that our winters do not kill varroa mites the way northern winters do. I have seen heavy mite loads survive January in South Texas, which means your treatment timing has to be aggressive. Combine that with year-round small hive beetle pressure and you can see why generic calendars fail here.
The Texas Beekeepers Association, plus our four regional clubs, all publish slightly different advice based on their microclimate. I lean on those local clubs constantly, and I will point you toward them throughout this guide.
The Four Texas Beekeeping Regions at a Glance
Before we walk through each month, you need to know which region your hive sits in. I group Texas into four zones, each with its own timing for major events.
East Texas (Pineywoods)
This region covers Houston, Lufkin, Nacogdoches, Tyler, and Longview. Expect humid summers, mild winters, and an early spring buildup. Tallow trees bloom in May and produce the strongest honey flow. Expect your main nectar flow from late March through mid-June, with a smaller fall flow from goldenrod in September.
Central Texas (Blackland Prairies and Hill Country)
Austin, Waco, San Antonio, College Station, and Brenham fall here. Expect hot summers, occasional drought, and wildflower nectar sources including bluebonnets in March and April. Mesquite trees give a strong flow in late May through June. This region often sees a drought-driven summer dearth.
South Texas (Coastal Bend and Rio Grande Valley)
Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen, and Laredo all see the longest beekeeping season in the state. Bees fly year-round, pests never fully stop, and you can sometimes split colonies in December. Expect two main flows: citrus and brush in spring, and a fall flow when rains return.
West Texas (High Plains and Trans-Pecos)
Lubbock, Midland, Odessa, El Paso, and Alpine see the shortest season. Cold winters, dry summers, and high elevation mean your bees cluster hard from November through February. Nectar flows are short but intense when rains come. Expect a May through July flow window.
Beekeeping Month by Month in Texas: Your 2026 Calendar
Here is the month-by-month breakdown. I list East Texas dates first and shift roughly 2 to 4 weeks later for West Texas throughout. South Texas starts 3 to 6 weeks earlier than East Texas for spring tasks.
January: Hive Checks and Winter Feeding
In East Texas, January is a quick-check month. On any sunny day above 55°F, pop the lid, confirm your cluster is alive, and add fondant or a candy board if stores are light. I do not break apart frames this month.
South Texas beekeepers are already feeding 1:1 sugar syrup to stimulate brood. You can start pollen patties mid-month. Central Texas sits in the middle. West Texas beekeepers should not be opening hives at all unless emergency feeding is required.
February: Order Bees and Start Spring Prep
February is when I order package bees and nucs for spring delivery. Texas Bee Supply and most local breeders sell out by March, so reserve now. In East Texas, begin light feeding if stores are below 30 pounds. Add pollen patties to stimulate brood.
Central Texas beekeepers should check bottom boards for dead varroa mites and start planning swarm prevention. South Texas is already seeing drones and queen cells in strong hives. West Texas beekeepers can begin light inspections on warm afternoons.
March: Swarm Prevention and First Splits
March is swarm season kickoff across most of Texas. East Texas beekeepers start weekly inspections, looking for queen cells. This is when I make my first splits on hives with 8 or more frames of brood.
Central Texas sees peak swarming by late March. Use the 3-3-3 rule: check hives every 3 days, for 3 minutes, looking for 3-frame queen cell clusters. South Texas is finishing splits and adding supers. West Texas is starting its first round of light feeding.
Now is the time to add queen excluders if you use them and reverse hive bodies if your bees have clustered high. I reverse in late February or early March in Central Texas.
April: Supering Up and Spring Inspections
April is supering month. East Texas beekeepers add their first honey supers when hives hit 8 frames of brood. Watch for swarms daily. If you find queen cells, decide between splitting, checkerboarding, or removing them.
Central Texas sees bluebonnets blooming and bees working them hard. Add a second super by late April in strong hives. South Texas is in full honey flow with tallow and mesquite starting. West Texas is just starting spring buildup.
April is also when I start grafting queens for spring replacements. Cell builder colonies need to be in peak condition, so I feed them 1:1 syrup continuously until cells are capped.
May: Honey Flow Peak
May is the money month. East Texas sees tallow trees blooming, which produces a thick, strong-flavored honey. Add supers ahead of the bees. I run three deep supers minimum in strong tallow hives.
Central Texas hits mesquite flow from late May into June. Strong hives can produce 60 to 80 pounds of mesquite honey during this window. South Texas is finishing spring extraction and prepping for summer dearth. West Texas is just beginning spring buildup and light feeding.
During peak flow, I stop inspections on production hives to avoid disturbing the bees. Mark your calendar to resume after the flow ends.
June: Extraction and Summer Prep
June is honey harvest time across most of Texas. East Texas beekeepers pull and extract tallow honey by mid-month. Central Texas finishes mesquite extraction. South Texas beekeepers are already into summer dearth management.
June is when I focus on ventilation. Add a screened bottom board, prop the outer cover, or add a slatted rack. Triple-digit heat kills brood fast if your hive cannot breathe. West Texas beekeepers should be adding supers and prepping for summer flow.
This month is also when I start watching for small hive beetles. Warm, humid conditions breed them fast. Check beetle traps weekly and consider treating soil around the apiary if populations explode.
July: Surviving the Heat
July is the hardest month on Texas bees. East and Central Texas beekeepers provide shade, water within 50 feet of the hive, and ventilation. Strong colonies handle the heat. Weak ones collapse.
South Texas is in deep summer dearth with constant robbing pressure. Reduce entrances to the smallest setting and avoid opening hives. West Texas is in peak honey flow and adding supers aggressively.
Do not feed syrup during July dearths. It triggers robbing. If a hive is starving, use fondant or frames of honey from stronger colonies.
August: Mite Treatment and Late Summer Flow Prep
August is when I run my most important varroa treatment of the year. After the honey harvest ends and before fall bees are raised, I treat every hive. Use an alcohol roll test or sugar roll test to confirm mite levels first.
East and Central Texas beekeepers typically use Apiguard, Formic Pro, or oxalic acid vapor in August. South Texas runs two mite treatments a year. West Texas treats in early September due to its later season.
August 3rd Saturday is National Honey Bee Day. Most Texas bee clubs run events. I attend the Central Texas Beekeepers Association gathering every year for swarm catches and networking.
September: Fall Flow and Winter Prep Begins
September brings goldenrod and aster bloom across East and Central Texas. Bees ramp up brood production for winter bees. Add light feeding (2:1 syrup) to hives short on stores.
South Texas sees a fall flow when rains return. Continue mite monitoring and combine weak hives. West Texas finishes mite treatment and starts winter feeding.
By the end of September, your hive should have 40 to 60 pounds of honey stored for winter. Anything less needs feeding.
October: Winter Stores and Equipment Repair
October is final winter prep month. East and Central Texas beekeepers confirm hives have 50+ pounds of stores. Continue 2:1 syrup feeding if needed. Combine any weak hives with stronger ones using the newspaper method.
South Texas is in light fall flow with steady brood production. Continue monitoring for pests and feeding as needed. West Texas beekeepers should have all winter prep done by mid-October.
October is when I repair equipment, replace old frames, and order gear for next year. I also clean and store my honey supers after extraction.
November: Winter Cluster Formation
November is when winter clusters form in East and Central Texas. Bees stop flying regularly. Reduce entrances to keep mice and robbers out. Add entrance reducers or mouse guards.
South Texas bees continue flying most days. Keep monitoring for varroa and small hive beetles. West Texas hives are clustering hard. Do not open unless emergency feeding is needed.
Use November to plan next year’s splits, queen orders, and apiary expansion. I keep a journal of every hive’s performance.
December: Rest and Planning
December is mostly rest in East, Central, and West Texas. Check hives on warm days only. Add fondant if stores are running low. South Texas beekeepers can still split strong colonies if conditions allow.
December is when I attend beekeeping conferences, take classes, and catch up on reading. The Texas Beekeepers Association annual conference typically happens in late fall or early winter, so watch for 2026 dates.
Order your package bees and nucs in December if you have not already. Texas Bee Supply and most breeders start taking reservations then.
Texas-Specific Beekeeping Challenges
Varroa Mites in Texas
Texas winters rarely get cold enough to kill varroa mites. That means you cannot rely on a brood break to reset mite levels. I treat twice a year: once in late July or August after honey harvest, and once in late November or December after brood production slows.
For most Texas beekeepers, I recommend rotating between two treatment chemistries to avoid resistance. Use thymol-based treatments in summer and oxalic acid in winter when broodless.
Small Hive Beetles in Texas Heat
Small hive beetles thrive in Texas heat and humidity. They reproduce in soil around the apiary, so I treat the ground with permethrin-based products where beetle pressure is heavy.
Strong colonies handle beetles. Weak ones get slimed. Focus on colony strength first. Beetle traps with vegetable oil or diatomaceous earth help, but they are a supplement, not a solution.
Texas Nectar Flow Plants
Knowing your local nectar flow makes or breaks your harvest. Here is the Texas plant calendar I share with every new beekeeper I mentor.
March-April brings maple, elm, and fruit trees across most regions. April-May adds bluebonnets in Central Texas, clover statewide, and wild mustard in East Texas. May-June is the big flow: tallow in East Texas, mesquite in Central and South Texas, and various brush species in West Texas.
September-October brings goldenrod and aster in East and Central Texas. South Texas sees a fall flow from brasil and other brush plants when rains return.
Texas Beekeeping Regulations and Resources
Texas does not require a state-level beekeeping license, but you should register your apiary with the Texas Apiary Inspection Service through TAMU if you keep bees for commercial sale or pollination services.
If you keep bees on land for an agricultural tax exemption, you need a minimum of 5 acres in many counties and proof of active management. The Texas Beekeepers Association website has the latest rules. I recommend joining your local club first. They will guide you through county-specific rules.
The Texas Beekeepers Association website at texasbeekeepers.org has a club locator, conference info, and Texas-specific resources. Most clubs charge under $30 a year and provide mentorship, swarm lists, and bulk equipment discounts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Beekeeping
What is the 3 3 3 rule for bees?
The 3-3-3 rule for bees is a swarm prevention inspection method. Check your hive every 3 days during peak swarm season (March in Central Texas, earlier in South Texas). Spend only 3 minutes per inspection to avoid disturbing the bees. Look for queen cell clusters of 3 or more cells, which usually indicate the colony is preparing to swarm and needs intervention.
What month do bees stop swarming in Texas?
In East and Central Texas, bees typically stop swarming by mid-June after the main spring flow ends. South Texas can see swarms year-round due to mild winters. West Texas sees its main swarm activity compressed into April and May. Hot summer temperatures above 95°F and reduced nectar availability naturally suppress swarming in July and August across most of Texas.
How many acres do I need to keep bees in Texas?
You can keep bees on less than an acre in most Texas counties for personal use. For an agricultural tax exemption (1-d-1), most counties require at least 5 acres of qualified land with bees as part of an active agricultural operation. Check with your county appraisal district for specific requirements. Urban beekeeping is allowed in most Texas cities with sensible hive placement.
What is the 7/10 rule for bees?
The 7/10 rule for bees suggests that a hive with 7 frames covered in bees in 10-frame equipment is strong enough to begin spring buildup and supering. This benchmark helps Texas beekeepers decide when to add supers or split a colony. Most Texas beekeepers aim for 7 to 8 frames of bees before spring manipulation to ensure the colony stays warm enough during cool nights.
Your Texas Beekeeping Year Ahead
Following a beekeeping month by month in Texas calendar will save you years of trial and error. I have watched dozens of new beekeepers lose hives in their first summer because they followed northern advice that does not work here. The Texas climate, pests, and nectar sources all demand a regional approach.
Start by joining your local beekeeping club. The Texas Beekeepers Association website lists clubs in every region. Then use this monthly guide to plan your hive work for 2026, adjusting dates based on your region. East Texas runs 2 to 4 weeks earlier than West Texas for spring tasks, and South Texas runs 3 to 6 weeks earlier than East Texas year-round.
Most importantly, keep a journal. I track every inspection, treatment, and harvest. After two seasons you will have a personal calendar that fits your exact microclimate. That is the real value of running a Texas beekeeping calendar month by month. Your bees, and your honey harvest, will thank you.