Overwintered Langstroth Nucleus Colony — Strong start for spring

Our overwintered Langstroth nuc arrives established, health-checked and ready to expand as temperatures rise. If you’re weighing up spring options, overwintered nucs typically give the strongest early-season momentum and a realistic first honey crop.

Flow Hive compatibility (Langstroth frames)

Supplied on Langstroth frames for direct transfer into Flow Hive brood boxes. Many Flow Hive owners choose overwintered Langstroth nucs for faster spring build-up. Consider a double brood setup if nectar flows are strong.

Breeding & selection (F1 Buckfast or Carniolan)

• Temperament: calm handling suited to beginners and experienced keepers.
• Brood pattern: strong, even laying on multiple frames.
• Spring build: efficient expansion through April–May.
• Productivity: selected for good nectar gathering across mixed forage.
• Hygiene traits: behaviour supportive of overall colony health.

Queens are supplied mated and laying, marked in the current-year colour. Drone sources and mother colonies are rotated to maintain vigour.

What’s included

• 1 × Overwintered Langstroth nucleus colony
• 1 × Paynes 6-frame poly nuc box with feeder & ventilated travel screen
• 1 × UK-mated queen — F1 Buckfast or Carniolan (marked)
• 6 × Langstroth frames, including:
  • Minimum 3–4 frames of brood in all stages (BIAS)
  • Frames of pollen and capped honey stores
• Fresh comb policy: frames & wax raised within the past year wherever possible

How we overwinter & prepare your nuc

• Late-summer balance: the right mix of bees, brood and stores.
• Regular checks: food, space and queen status monitored through autumn/winter.
• Pest management: integrated Varroa treatments in line with good practice.
• Spring assessment: strength, brood quality and queen status confirmed before dispatch.

If spring is delayed, we hold nucs until conditions are safe for travel and installation.

Delivery & collection

• Free mainland UK delivery: Royal Mail Special Delivery by 1pm (securely packaged).
• Dorset hand-delivery: by our beekeepers on planned routes.
• Collection: by arrangement from Dorset.

We’ll confirm your dispatch window ~2 weeks in advance of April delivery.

Installing & first-week care

Install during mild, settled weather (evening preferred). Avoid over-spacing in week one; feed lightly if forage is limited.

• Guide: How to Install a Nucleus Colony
• Tool: Sugar Syrup Calculator (1:1 / 2:1)
• Compare: Spring Langstroth nucs  |  Summer Langstroth nucs  |  See all Langstroth nucs

FAQs — Overwintered Langstroth Nucs