Yes, you can harvest honeycomb from a Flow Hive, but this is only possible with a specific model known as the Flow Hive Hybrid. The standard Flow Hive is engineered exclusively for harvesting liquid honey directly from the tap, meaning its specialized Flow Frames do not yield traditional, harvestable honeycomb or beeswax.
The core distinction is in the hive's design: a standard Flow Hive is built for the simple extraction of liquid honey, while the Flow Hive Hybrid combines this technology with traditional frames to allow for the harvesting of natural honeycomb as well.
How Flow Frames Redefine Honey Collection
To understand why honeycomb harvesting is limited, you must first grasp how the core technology works. The Flow Hive system is a fundamental departure from traditional beekeeping methods.
The "On-Tap" Mechanism
The patented Flow Frames are made of a food-grade plastic that bees build upon, fill with honey, and cap with their own wax.
When you are ready to harvest, you insert a special tool—the Flow Key—into the top of the frame and turn it. This action splits the plastic honeycomb cells vertically inside the hive.
This split creates channels that allow the honey to flow downwards, out of the hive through a tube, and directly into your jar. The bees remain largely undisturbed inside the hive.
Why Standard Flow Frames Don't Produce Harvestable Comb
The plastic honeycomb structure within a standard Flow Frame is permanent. After you drain the honey, you turn the key back to reset the cells.
The bees then uncap the cells, repair them with wax, and begin the process of refilling them. The wax comb is never removed; it is a reusable part of the hive infrastructure. This design maximizes ease for liquid honey collection but makes harvesting the comb itself impossible.
The Solution for Honeycomb: The Flow Hive Hybrid
The creators of the Flow Hive recognized that many beekeepers want both the convenience of "on-tap" honey and the unique experience of fresh, natural honeycomb. Their solution is the Flow Hive Hybrid.
Combining Two Technologies
The Hybrid model includes both specialized Flow Frames and traditional wooden frames within the same honey box (the "super").
This gives you the best of both worlds: you can use the Flow Frames for easy liquid honey harvesting and the timber frames for the bees to build natural wax comb from scratch.
Harvesting from Traditional Frames
To harvest honeycomb from the Hybrid model, you will use a more traditional method for those specific frames.
This involves opening the hive, removing the wooden frames, and cutting out sections of the wax honeycomb. This process is more invasive than using the Flow Frames but is the only way to get honeycomb from the system.
Understanding the Trade-offs
Choosing a hive system is about balancing convenience, beekeeping philosophy, and your desired end products. The Flow Hive system presents a clear set of trade-offs.
The Key Benefit: Minimal Disturbance
The primary advantage of the Flow Frame system is that it is significantly less stressful for the bees. Traditional harvesting requires opening the hive, pulling out frames, brushing or blowing bees off, and using centrifuges to extract the honey.
The Flow Hive's "on-tap" method bypasses this entire disruptive process, reducing harm to the colony and labor for the beekeeper.
The Design Limitation: No Comb from Flow Frames
The trade-off for this convenience is the inability to harvest the wax comb from the Flow Frames themselves. The system is purpose-built for one function: efficient liquid honey extraction.
The Hybrid Compromise
The Flow Hive Hybrid offers a compromise. It allows you to access the revolutionary "on-tap" honey while still producing traditional honeycomb. However, you must accept that harvesting the comb from the wooden frames will require the more invasive, hands-on techniques that the Flow Frame system was designed to avoid.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
Your decision should be guided by what you want to achieve with your beekeeping.
- If your primary focus is the easiest, least disruptive way to get liquid honey: The standard Flow Hive is designed specifically for this goal.
- If your primary focus is having both "on-tap" liquid honey and natural honeycomb: The Flow Hive Hybrid is the correct and only choice within the Flow system.
- If your primary focus is maximizing natural honeycomb and beeswax production: You will rely entirely on the traditional timber frames within the Flow Hive Hybrid for this purpose.
Ultimately, the Flow Hive system empowers you to choose the beekeeping experience that best aligns with your objectives.
Summary Table:
| Hive Model | Liquid Honey Harvest | Honeycomb Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Flow Hive | Yes, via 'on-tap' Flow Frames | No |
| Flow Hive Hybrid | Yes, via 'on-tap' Flow Frames | Yes, from traditional wooden frames |
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