city in California
Honey bee forage in El Cajon, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 38% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (63rd percentile) and lowest in spring (38th). Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer), 0.15 mi N.
When is the honey flow in El Cajon?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Jan 16 to Apr 30, peaking early Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: May 16 to Jul 15 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of El Cajon, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on Feb 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around El Cajon
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, high intensity (paved).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.15 mi N; pond, lake or river 1.89 mi SW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 100% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How El Cajon ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 34th | 50th | 21st | 32nd |
| California | 38th | 38th | 45th | 63rd |
| Southern California/Northern Baja Coast | 4th | 6th | 61st | 55th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around El Cajon: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Bostonia 2 mi · Casa de Oro-Mount Helix 3 mi · Winter Gardens 3 mi · Granite Hills 3 mi · Rancho San Diego 4 mi · Santee 4 mi
All towns in California · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of El Cajon (32.8017, -116.9605); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.