city in California
Honey bee forage in Turlock, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 76% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in fall (70th percentile) and lowest in summer (59th). Biggest nearby bee crops: almonds (nearest 0.6 mi SW).
When is the honey flow in Turlock?
- First forage: Jan 16 (dandelion, maples, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Mar 31, peaking early Mar (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, almonds)
- Fall flow: Apr 16 to May 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Turlock, 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 28.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, alfalfa; 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, dandelion, garden flowers, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Almonds: about 2,536 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi N, blooms early Feb – early Mar
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Turlock
Mostly: Almonds; Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.17 mi NE; open water 0.17 mi NE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 97% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Turlock ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 87th | 34th | 36th |
| California | 76th | 60th | 59th | 70th |
| Central California Valley | 34th | 29th | 64th | 85th |
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 Turlock: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Denair 4 mi · Keyes 5 mi · Hughson 7 mi · Delhi 7 mi · Hilmar-Irwin 7 mi · Cowan 8 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 Turlock (37.5055, -120.8593); 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.